{"id":6455,"date":"2023-07-16T09:39:53","date_gmt":"2023-07-16T08:39:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/northern-england\/?page_id=6455"},"modified":"2023-07-16T09:39:53","modified_gmt":"2023-07-16T08:39:53","slug":"sustain-our-futures","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/northern-england\/sustain-our-futures\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustain Our Futures"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_single_image image=”6457″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow_3d” css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

SUSTAIN OUR FUTURES – President Martha\u2019s SINE Regional Conference<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/span>June 27th<\/sup>2023, The Auctioneer, Carlisle<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

Some sixty members from across the Northern Region gathered for a day of information gathering, fellowship and a call to action around the theme of \u201cSustain Our Futures\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Health Hazards of Climate Change and What We Can Do about Them<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

Our opening speaker, Joe Human<\/em><\/strong>, truly challenged us with experiences of climate change in different parts of the world based on many years of work for Oxfam and as a Fairtrade campaigner.<\/span><\/p>\n

He highlighted not just extreme weather events but the long-term effects on people\u2019s health and well-being. His presentation stimulated a great deal of comment, discussion and heartfelt feeling across the room (especially as the Region was experiencing a heatwave – though nowhere near the extremes of countries such as India).<\/span><\/p>\n

We must appreciate that heatwaves can kill!<\/span><\/p>\n

Is our planet\u2019s extinction therefore inevitable? Where is the hope? That, says Joe, lies in our ACTIONS!<\/span><\/p>\n

Some recommended reading:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

HOTHOUSE EARTH – AN INHABITANT\u2019S GUIDE by Bill McGuire<\/span>
\nNOMAD CENTURY by Gaia Vince<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sustainable Mobility Futures<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

We live in arguably one of the most beautiful regions in England and yet mobility across and within it remains a significant issue.<\/span><\/p>\n

Monika Buscher<\/em><\/strong>, Professor of Sociology at Lancaster University and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Emma Moody<\/em><\/strong>, Lead Strategy Adviser for Recreation and Sustainab<\/span>le Transport for the Lake District National Park Authority presented findings from a recent workshop in booklet form entitled: <\/span>Cumbria 2037: Decarbonising Mobility Futures Journal in a Day<\/em>. https:\/\/decarbon8.org.uk\/cumbria-2037\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Although 20% of households in Cumbria have no car, we do seem to be locked into a car system. Even if we swapped to all electric cars we might still tip over our 1.5 degree climate target. Train and bus services are piecemeal and timed links between them are often totally impractical. So how might we move forward? Do we need more INNOVATION or perhaps greater INTEGRATION?<\/span><\/p>\n

Clearly there are NO EASY SOLUTIONS but in order to reduce carbon emissions from transport without losing the many benefits that mobility brings we all need to seek out current opportunities and initiatives as well as lobby government to engage further with community leaders to establish further sustainable mobility futures in our region.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Can We Do?<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

Following a delicious buffet lunch provided by our hosts The Auctioneer, Lindsay Edmiston<\/em><\/strong> and Claire Rawlinson<\/em><\/strong> of SI Cockermouth & District highlighted The Great Big Green Week<\/em><\/strong> and gave some suggestions as to what each of us might do across the region in terms of sustainability. https:\/\/greatbiggreenweek.com\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

GBGW aims to challenge our politicians as to what we can do at government level. Has it been sufficiently advertised? Let\u2019s all ensure that it\u2019s in our club programmes for next year! (see GBGW website for dates, details,etc.)<\/span><\/p>\n

A visual of climate stripes representing temperature gains over recent decades clearly brought home the climate crisis in which we find ourselves!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Image courtesy of Professor Ed Hawkins (University of Reading)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0https:\/\/showyourstripes.info\/<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Using the WWF Footprint Calculator it was shown that on average each person has a carbon footprint of 9.5 tonnes :<\/span><\/p>\n

29% Home \u00a029% Travel \u00a018% Food and 24% Stuff !<\/span><\/p>\n

Stemming from SINE sustainability in home work the 5 most impactful activities appear to be (where possible we have sought to find some quantification evidence of the benefit):<\/span><\/p>\n