LCON’s developing strategy
For the last two months LCON has been discussing our plans for 2018. A key aim for us is to get more people in north Oxford actively engaged in cutting our greenhouse gas emissions and more generally making this an even better place to live. We will be agreeing our plans in December – watch this space for some new plans and actions.
LCON website
Whilst the website has served LCON well in the past conveying our ideas and campaigns, we recognise it now needs a refresh. Some of the information is dated and needs an update. But as a LCON supporter or member, what do you find most helpful or inspiring? What would you value most? More good practice examples? More links to helpful resources? More short tips and hints? A blog on low-carbon living? More information on social media – Facebook or Twitter? A technical advice section? What are we missing? Can you take 5 minutes out to let us know?
Please email suggestions to us.
Oxford News
Zero Emission Zone consultation
This important public consultation closes on November 26th. We urge you to make your voice heard on this and support it. We have prepared
a guide to the consultation questions, including suggested answers. This is a one-time consultation and it is important that those who want clean air really do stand up for the idea of the ZEZ - this matters to us all.
Help make a stand for safer cycling in Oxford
A renewed call for urgent action on cycling safety has been launched by friends and colleagues of Claudia Comberti who was killed on the Botley Road in May 2017. The Claudia Charter sets out a vision for feeling safe and being safe when cycling in Oxford. It calls for greater respect for vulnerable road users, decisive political commitment to increase cycle safety in and around Oxford, and far safer highways for cycle users.
The specific list of demands includes practical steps to encourage more cycle training, especially in schools, more reporting of near misses and aggressive incidents, and implementing safety campaigns such as Cycling UK’s “Too Close for Comfort” across Oxfordshire. Physical measures include the need for well designed, continuous segregated cycle ways and appropriate provision for cyclists at junctions.
The Charter aims to spark conversations, support dialogue and create positive change. Speaking at the well-attended launch in Botley, representatives of Cyclox, a local advocacy group and the Broken Spoke bike co-op, reflected that we all have rights and responsibilities when using the roads. They urged that further delays on taking preventative action were avoided as no loss of life or serious injury is acceptable. If we are serious about getting more people out of their cars for some journeys, now is the time to raise our voices for safer cycling policies and initiatives.
Read and endorse the Charter
here.
Call for action on Oxford’s air pollution now
A petition scroll, signed by 1400 people, and including many Summertown residents, was unfurled at a recent Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) meeting by Oxford Friends of the Earth. The group had an opportunity to address the full council meeting with their concerns over Oxford’s consistent breaching of World Health Organisation limits on particulates. Whilst welcoming proposals such as the Zero Emission Zone, OxFoE called for action sooner rather than later. A motion calling on the OCC to work with other district councils was passed unanimously. OxFoE and Oxfordshire Clean Air Network will keep a watchful eye on developments. They are actively engaged with Oxford City Council on a forthcoming campaign to cut engine idling.
'Oxford 2030: Working together on climate change and transport' Public Meeting Friday 12 January
Oxford City has committed to cut our greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. The city is also planning a Zero Emission Zone to tackle air pollution, much of which may be in place by that time. But there are real concerns that we will not meet this target, nor deliver clean air right across the city. How do we work across the city and county to deliver the changes to our transport system that will meet climate and air pollution targets?
Oxford’s two MPs, Anneliese Dodds (Oxford East) and Layla Moran (Oxford West) will speak about how we can deliver the change we need and answer your questions. Also speaking will be Stephen Joseph, Director of the national
Campaign for Better Transport, and Rachel Huxley of the
C40 global network of cities tackling climate change. The meeting runs from 6.30pm – 9pm, at the Wesley Memorial Church, New Inn Hall St. Oxford, and is organised by the Oxfordshire Climate Action Network.
Low Carbon West Oxford 10th birthday
Congratulations from LCON to
Low Carbon West Oxford who are celebrating their 10th anniversary of community-led action on climate change. Events include setting up heritage walking and cycling trails around the area.
Talking about the climate
Do you have trouble talking to friends and family about climate change? For more ideas on how to get people talking freely on these issues, check out this
account of the key messages from last week's talk by Katharine Hayhoe, organised by
Climate Outreach at St Mary's Church in High St.
National and international news
Housing and energy efficiency
House builders are 'cheating the public' over energy efficiency standards, claims Lord Deben (better known to some when he was John Gummer MP), now Chairman of the statutory Committee on Climate Change (CCC). Last week he criticised some of the biggest UK private house-building firms for delivering new homes that allegedly fail to meet energy efficiency standards. He urged developers to step up efforts to ensure new homes meet Passive House standards, which require designs to combine ultra-low energy consumption with consistently good air quality. Lord Deben specifically called out three of the UK's largest house builders - Barratt, Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey - for failing to implement these standards and “cheating the public” by inflating the cost of energy bills for homeowners and tenants.
This article is from the very useful
www.edie.net here
Powering Past Coal Alliance – UK and Canada urge a move away from coal
Global climate change conferences might seem remote from the everyday realities of local life. But increasingly there is a rich seam of information becoming available on the positive action being taken by communities to address climate change challenges. The recent talks in Bonn (known as COP 23) are no exception.
Information is here.
And sometimes there is more celebrate. On November 16
th, the UK and Canada proudly introduced their joint initiative, the
Powering Past Coal Alliance and asked for support. Nation after nation, state after state pledged their allegiance. By the end of the session there were over 20 signatories. Promoting the initiative, Government Minister, Claire Perry has announced that the UK is committed to completely phasing out unabated coal-fired power generation no later than 2025. Follow news on Twitter: #PoweringPastCoal
Is organic good for the planet?
This week New Scientist magazine has published another article suggesting that “If we only ate organic it would be an environmental disaster”: Their article is
here.
But the Food Climate Research Network, based here in Oxford at the Environmental Change Institute has a different view. Part of their research is focusing on ‘feeding the world more sustainably with organic agriculture’ and their insights are
here.
They say that ‘cutting emissions per kilogram of food produced is important for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. However this does not tell the full story. Climate change is one challenge among many others of equal importance – such as disruption of the nitrogen cycle or increasing pesticide pollution. Action on climate change should not be done at the expense of acting on these other challenges’.
Poisoned playgrounds?
With mounting concern over the elevated levels of air pollution around many schools and nurseries, ClientEarth (who spoke at ONCORE’s last meeting in October) are gathering support for their next hard-hitting national campaign. Have you signed their ‘
Poisoned Playgrounds’ petition yet? Please do so and write to your local MP, Layla Moran (information is supplied when you sign the petition).
ClientEarth is calling for:
- A comprehensive network of Clean Air Zones (CAZs) across the UK – these must keep the dirtiest vehicles out of the most polluted parts of our towns and cities and champion public transport, walking and cycling
- Alongside this we need the Government to help drivers switch from dirty diesel vehicles to cleaner forms of transport
- A new Clean Air Act to protect our right to breathe clean air and match legal limits to safer World Health Organisation guideline levels.
Air pollution around schools – reducing the risks
The British Lung Foundation and the National Education Union have published
a joint briefing on air pollution guidance for school staff. The 4 page document clearly explains why air pollution is a particular hazard for children and suggests a variety of practical initiatives. These include developing an action plan and communicating with parents and carers about appropriate car use around schools. Other tactics can be adopted. For example, lessons on air pollution which can be linked to the National Curriculum in science, PSHE or citizenship, English and Geography. Teachers can organise clean air assemblies, and encourage pupils to talk to their parents and write to their MP. If you are a parent, you might ask what your child’s school is doing to combat risk?
Oxford Events Diary
29 November Summertown St Margaret’s Neighbourhood Forum Annual General Meeting at St. Andrew’s Church, Linton Road. 7pm, all welcome. The meeting will start with the AGM and be followed by Cllr John Tanner speaking about the Zero Emission Zone. More on the meeting
here.
2 December Annual Green Fair at Oxford Town Hall. Organised by Oxfordshire Green Party. From 11am. Stalls promoting ethical trading and environmental ideas and issues. Ideal for Christmas gifts. Small entrance fee. Find out more
here.
12 January: 'Oxford 2030: Working together on climate change and transport' Public Meeting
organised by
Oxfordshire Climate Action Network
And looking forward
Fairtrade Fortnight 2018 runs from 26 February until 11 March.
That's not us, that's Christine Lagarde of the International Monetary Fund warning of a ‘dark future’ if the world fails to take rapid steps to address climate change.
Alison, Brenda. Julie, Kim, Rebecca, Roosa and Sarah
