More than 100 of us representing around 50 member organisations gathered in Guildford on 1 February for SECA’s Annual Gathering. This year’s theme was 2030: A Call To Action, looking at what needs to be done for us to hit our climate targets. While the science, the news headlines and the recent severe weather all give grounds for deep concern, the day was filled with positive messages about what we can do to bring about change.
Opening the plenary session, Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Net Zero and co-sponsor of the Climate & Nature Bill Pippa Heylings conceded “We’re here in really tough times, aren’t we?”. With only five years to 2030 the UK is not on target to meet our climate and nature commitments. Globally, prospects are dominated by the US withdrawal from the Paris agreement, while nationally the Treasury is presenting the issue as a binary choice between growth and nature.
But Pippa, the MP for South Cambridgeshire, said “It’s absolutely time to stand strong and hold the faith.” She said that while the COP process was not going as fast as we would like, it had saved us from the four degree warming we were otherwise on course for.
COP progress
The COP 29 talks in November in Baku finally agreed a carbon credit framework after ten years of wrangling, while the COP 16 biodiversity conference in Cali in October agreed to establish the Cali Fund, a voluntary fund where companies using genetic data from nature will contribute a portion of their profits to support biodiversity conservation, essentially creating a mechanism to share the benefits from using genetic material from nature more equitably. The next step in the process will be COP 30 in November in Brazil, which will see climate and nature coming together for the first time.
Within the UK, she cited plans to develop offshore wind via the Crown Estate, which owns the seabed, and to transfer workers’ skills from oil rigs to floating wind energy as the economy decarbonises.
And she urged SECA groups to engage with the local government reorganisation proposals, describing the Devolution White Paper as “absolutely critical to SECA”. “We don’t agree with taking that power so far away from local people, but if this is the way forward, this is now the time that we say that at those devolved authorities we make sure there’s a mandate around climate and nature,” she said. She also urged engagement with the proposed Land Use Framework, which aims to develop a toolkit to identify which parts of the country are suitable for energy infrastructure, housing and food production, and which should be protected for nature. The government launched a consultation on 31 January.
On the Climate and Nature Bill, she said the government had taken the view that what was needed was not more targets, but more deliverability. The relevant ministers told the bill’s backers they wanted to work with them but that if the bill was put forward now, it faced being voted down. Yet by bringing the bill to ministers’ attention, its backers secured commitments to work on its objectives and the campaign will continue.
As campaigners, she said, it’s our job to explain how climate action can deliver a positive, aspirational future. And she urged us to keep emailing our MPs, saying lobbying really made a difference.
South Downs action
Sara Osman, Climate Change Officer at the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) introduced the park’s Climate Change Action Plan, which considers the likely impacts of climate change. The SDNPA has a target to reach Net Zero by 2030 as an organisation, as well as a target for the whole National Park area to reach net zero by 2045.
The park is preparing for impacts including more extreme weather events, flooding, subsidence, declining soil health and threats to farming and food production, with a focus on nature-based solutions, land use change and sustainable farming.
There is a focus on community-based solutions, including supporting sustainability for businesses in the National Park area via the Our South Downs business network. The park has set up a Climate Action Network on the KnowledgeHub platform, offering a space to share information, and is working with OnePlanet to map local authority climate action strategies to identify synergies.
Challenges for Surrey
Ben McCallan, climate engagement officer at Surrey County Council, talked candidly about the challenges and opportunities facing the county. Work is under way on a new Surrey Climate Change Delivery Plan to replace the current one which runs to March 2026 and he urged Surrey residents to take part in engagement sessions.
His aim is to build collaboration to make climate action a central part of everyone’s life, not the separate side issue it is at present. He cited the council’s work with Zero Carbon Guildford on heat and energy surveys, which he said were an easy sell because of the cost and health benefits. More of a challenge is transport, where emissions need to reduce by 93%, which can’t happen without investment in infrastructure.
Ben cited research by C40 Cities showing that a collaborative, place-based approach could reduce emissions by almost 30% with no government intervention. We need to make sure we keep up pressure on policymakers and not give in to cynicism over whether it does any good. “It is really crucial to make sure that climate and nature is really at the forefront of politicians’ minds,” he said.
The current plan includes a 2030 Net Zero target for council emissions, and 2050 for the whole county. Ben said that while Surrey was on track for 2050, this was 20 years behind what the science says we should be doing. We need a 56% reduction in carbon emissions in the next five years. Local authorities can’t do this by themselves, we as communities need to work out how we’ll do this.
Youth activist Lizzie Beveridge urged the audience to “get on TikTok” and create messaging that’s attractive to young people.
The gathering then split up into table discussions and workshops, sharing views and experiences and agreeing our Calls to Action. There are summaries of the discussions below.
Participants were invited to write down words and phrases giving their impressions of the day, which Nicola Peel performed as a poem at the end of the event. We’re grateful to Friends of the Earth for their funding of the event, we were able to make a donation to Zero Carbon Guildford, who are fundraising for the move to new premises.
DEVOLUTION AND THE FUTURE OF LOCAL COUNCILS
Hampshire Climate Action Network Chair Chris Holloway led a discussion table on the proposed local government reorganisation. Participants agreed that we need to work together on devolution and local government reorganisation to keep climate at the top of the agenda.
SECA and HCAN took immediate action to get other climate networks on board. We got an immediate enthusiastic response and we sent this joint letter signed by SECA, HCAN and 11 other groups, to Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, and Jim McMahon, the Minister responsible for devolution, asking for climate to be a statutory responsibility of strategic authorities alongside planning, transport, housing etc.
Chris has produced this briefing document which outlines the plans in the Government White Paper. She’ll keep it updated as events progress, so it’s worth checking back regularly.
AIRPORT EXPANSION AND THE THREAT TO OUR ENVIRONMENT
Sally Pavey’s CAGNE (Campaign Against Gatwick Noise & Emissions) Airport Expansion table created far more interest this year, which could have had something to do with the Chancellor’s speech a few days earlier announcing backing for Heathrow expansion. Two groups worked to find positives and negatives of air travel formalising key points that needed to be addressed urgently.
- No airport expansion could be a way for the government to remove the thinking that flying is acceptable/not an issue for our planet.
- We need to make greener forms of transport more attractive, to counter the constant media promotion of flying
- We need to educate the consumer on the true impact flying has on the planet, not just the negatives of global warming but the local environmental issues and pressures that airport expansion creates.
BIODIVERSITY MATTERS
This session, led by Tony Whitbread, Nicola Peel and Viviane Doussy, looked at a number of issues around biodiversity and explored how local groups can make a meaningful impact. This included:
- How we can ensure accountability and deliverability of Biodiversity Net Gain.
- How local authorities need to include training and continued professional development around biodiversity and nature-based solutions and training planners in the importance of biodiversity at university.
- The importance of linking skilled formal networks (like councils) with informal and knowledgeable local groups. It would be great to formally connect parish councils with local community groups and the importance of mapping active local groups (using a tool like OnePlanet). This would also mean they could get in touch with local companies to see if they would like to send their staff for their annual community service day to your conservation project.
- How can we encourage more people to join a conservation group rather than starting up a new one? A young member emphasised the importance of conservation work at weekends and ensuring it is integrated with public transport.
- It’s great to have example places where you can ‘show and tell’ and see the true benefits of rewilding and improving habitat.
- And as SECA considers both the climate and the ecological emergency, is it time to change our name? SECA could keep the acronym but change its name to the Southeast Ecological and Climate Alliance.
COPPICING AND HOW IT LEADS TO RURAL REGENERATION
Members of the Sussex and Surrey Coppice Group described the importance and implications of bringing back sections of ancient woodland into the rotation of regrowth, a system formed for millennia, which in turn enables the regeneration of biodiversity.
Clive Cobie described his Nine Villages Ripple Effect project, which uses the principle that if 25% of a population believes in a project enough then a natural tipping point will occur. His plan is to start small, with a talk in a pilot village to start the wheel turning. The talk would explain potentials for communities of interest and expansive actions, for example groups interested in coppicing connect with groups interested in recording biodiversity. Once recorded, the copse is cut, materials are collected for rural crafts, excess wood for logs, smaller wood made into charcoal and biochar, groups interested in blacksmithing buy charcoal, allotmenteers buy biochar, start a series of experimental beds and carry out citizen science, adding amendments and recording growth of vegetables etc.
As more innovators engage, we hold more village hall talks, and more small groups go out to cut hazel coppice. The visual impression would be dynamic, people would notice the difference in the spring as flowers bloom and biodiversity increases, and the message would spread.
You can read more about Clive’s vision here.
CLEAR THINKING FOR CLEAN WATER IN RIVERS
Alistair Young of Water Rangers’ discussion attracted only a few people, but there has been so much negative publicity about water perhaps many participants felt it was already receiving a lot of focus. Alistair discussed the sources and causes of different types of pollution and their environmental impact. Not all of this is down to water companies, who – though with some questionable practices – are also restricted in what they can do by poorly framed terms of service/requirements, and a lack of coherent infrastructure planning.
Lack of oversight management by local and national government agencies (budget restrictions and, again, poor definition of requirements) means it is vital that we take on the responsibility of collecting and sharing information about water quality, misuse, mismanagement and problem areas. Operations of farms, septic tanks, roads, housing, and industrial run-off are not properly monitored, and often not properly designed as part of the infrastructure planning process. Issues of herbicides, PFAs, antibiotics, and other substances are a much longer lasting and more pervasive issue than E.coli in sewage and farm slurry.
- Join in: Become a river guardian or water ranger with your local river trust or environment/biodiversity group. Collect and share results.
- It’s doubtful that taking water services into public ownership would help – any profits or savings would go back into the public purse, not be directed to specific industry upgrades. Call for a commercial approach to problems and failures of service companies – assign equity rather than monetary fines to focus the way shares are voted.
- Actively monitor local planning to ensure that all necessary infrastructure is included – not just medical, educational and transport requirements. A hundred new homes means a lot of sewage to be processed – just as important as a new school.
- Make your local government, council and MP aware of the issues and concerns to raise the profile of the problem.
LOOKING BELOW THE SURFACE WITH OIL AND GAS IN THE WEALD AREA
This discussion, led by Emily Mott of Weald Action Group, was able to point to some recent successes – a Supreme Court ruling last June in a case brought by activist Sarah Finch against Surrey County Council that the climate impact of burning coal, oil and gas must be taken into account when deciding whether to approve projects, a ruling in Scotland last month that the Rosebank and Jackdaw developments were approved unlawfully, and locally, an application by Star Energy for an underground power cable linking its oil and gas site at Singleton to the grid. Star already has consent for two gas turbines at the site north of Chichester, and the application aims to reduce flaring and venting of gas produced alongside oil at Singleton.
Weald Action Group and the Clean Air Action Group are launching a campaign to highlight venting, flaring, and leaks of methane at numerous oil and gas facilities across the UK. Emily said recent legal victories were forcing companies to take responsibility and now was the time to build on this momentum.
GAINING STRENGTH THROUGH NETWORKING
This discussion led by Sara Osman, Climate Change Officer at the South Downs National Park Authority, explored the new South Downs Climate Action Network group on the Knowledge Hub and the Climate Action Map, showing groups delivering climate action in their communities across the South East. There is a need to share resources to help communities do more but not spend time re-inventing what others have already achieved. The map is also a great way to see how many other groups are tackling climate change across the region, and to be able to connect with others, for support or for greater collaboration.
- The South Downs National Park Authority could work with SECA to develop the Knowledge Hub network and help build a resource for action on climate change.
- SECA could promote the Knowledge Hub to other community groups who may not be working directly on climate change, but who may want to explore developing a project that tackles climate change with the communities that they support.
- The key takeaway from the session was to get your group on the map, connect with others and share on the Knowledge Hub!
HEAT SAVING, ENERGY AND HOME INSULATION
Cat Reeby of Surrey Climate Commission highlighted the work being done by Zero Carbon Guildford in collaboration with Surrey County Council offering advice to households on energy efficiency. The project trains volunteers to help their neighbours and communities deal with the cost of living crisis, reduce their bills and stay healthy by reducing damp and mould in their homes. Cost of living and health are two strong positive messages to focus on to get people onside.
Looking at how this could be replicated elsewhere, the table discussion included the need to share best practice, resources and toolkits, and to work to counter widespread misinformation on new technology such as heat pumps.
WHY AREN’T WE MOVING FASTER?
Chris Todd of Transport Action Network talked about sustainable travel and TAN’s current campaigns, including lobbying on the new Integrated National Transport Strategy for England, to be published later this year, and putting pressure on the Treasury to prioritise public transport over building new roads. We’ll be bringing more details on TAN’s campaigns in future SECA newsletters.
One issue highlighted in the discussions was the need to address the driver mentality and change people’s perception of public transport. Chris highlighted a successful campaign in Brighton where third-party advertising on the sides of buses was replaced with positive messages about bus use.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Neil Pitcairn ran a workshop on the Circular Economy, squeezing into one hour a topic which could have comfortably taken a whole day. It is important to make a bridge between the urgent global need to reduce consumption and the actions which volunteers can take locally, not least because controlling climate change will depend on it. Participants took away that, as well as individual action to reduce, reuse and recycle, and community action such as volunteering in Repair Cafes and Community Fridges, there are opportunities to embed Circular Economy principles and action points in local council plans. And even where there is a council with a Circular Economy strategy in place, there’s a need for volunteers to provide impetus and continuity, since many councils are overstretched and suffer from a churn of officers and councillors. There’s a wealth of educational material on websites such as the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and Doughnut Economics Action Lab, but not enough people using them to spread the message to the wider community.
Those who came to the workshop were guinea pigs for what Neil hopes to develop into something deliverable in variety of forms, even in modules over a day, allowing more time for discussion. The reference points he used are available on the Circular Dorking website.
COMMUNICATING CLIMATE MESSAGES TO YOUNG PEOPLE
The youth workshop brought together 11 local students from varying backgrounds to co-create a presentation that addressed how older generations could better engage youth in climate action. The girls broke the workshop up into three sections: Climate Education in Schools, Engaging Youth Outside of School and Social Media. They did a lot of research, included peer discussions and consultation with faculty, and each section of their presentation brought something different to light; they highlighted how there is no climate change education in the national curriculum after Year 9 (because it’s not part of national exams) and how educators don’t feel equipped to teach the subject.
They also discussed the importance of meeting youth where they’re at and engaging them with things that will actually get their attention (a bake sale held on the High St with a climate fact on the bottom of the cupcake will engage youth more than a plant sale outside the library). They also drilled down the importance of using the correct social media platforms to engage the younger demographic (they are not seeing your Facebook posts!) and encouraged us all to get on to TikTok.
Steph Bleach of Zero Carbon Guildford convened the group, who had several meetings over the past two months to crystallise their message. The girls have created a shareable slide deck that they are happy for anyone to view and use. They are working on some of the feedback from the workshop to enhance their slide deck so it can be even more of an educational tool for others.
