Bath and North East Somerset Climate and Biodiversity Festival

Bath and North East Somerset Council’s first ever Climate & Biodiversity Festival saw hundreds of residents taking the opportunity to learn from and inspire each other on ways to reduce carbon emissions and restore nature. During the two-week festival, the programme of more than 35 events helped to build connections and communities and engaged residents with a broad range of issues relating to tackling the climate and ecological emergency. Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for Climate and Sustainable Travel said: “We’ve had a fantastic response to our first climate festival. Our thanks go out to all our collaborators, the local groups, businesses and organisations that created such a wide range of events and activities around our two key themes of reducing carbon emissions and restoring nature. “I also want to thank everyone who attended an event either online or face-to-face. Many people commented that it was a nice way to re-invigorate community spirit as we slowly come out of lockdown and I found it personally rewarding to see people making new connections. “We really want people to continue these discussions, to talk to friends and neighbours and share ideas on what to do, or get engaged with a local community group, community forum or parish council to work out what can be done in their local area.” The council is looking forward to another event next year, but in the meantime, residents who want to keep up to date on local activity around the climate and ecological emergencies can sign up to receive our newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/b810a2abd075/green-bath-nes-newsletter The Climate & Biodiversity Festival focused on what is being done locally and aimed to feed into the conversation leading up to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) which starts on 1 November in Glasgow. Hand-crafted moths created during a festival workshop in Bath are being sent to the COP26 Conference to be included in the Moths to a Flame mass-participation art installation. The council is providing the leadership to enable change and encouraging collaborative action to support its commitment to reach net zero carbon by 2030 and much of the community feedback during the festival’s many panel discussions and workshops will help to inform ongoing action planning work. Bath and North East Somerset Council is also continuing to develop and deliver the projects within the Climate Emergency Action Plan, including working with the West of England Combined Authority and supporting parish councils and community groups in their action planning. You can find out how the council is responding to the Climate Emergency on the website: https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/responding-climate-emergency The Climate & Biodiversity Festival Playlist on You Tube includes photographs and recorded discussions that took place during the two weeks: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9JE6hqzoLeXeqJb1sw260Va_H6s6uPrW If you missed an online webinar, there are several to watch including: Planting Trees for Climate and Biodiversity; Increasing Renewable Energy Generation in B&NES; School Action on Climate & Biodiversity; Living Locally; and Making My Home More Energy Efficient. There is also a series of films from the Chew Valley community and a webinar hosted by the Planning team about Zero Carbon Development & Energy Efficiency in the Local Plan Partial Update & SPDs.