{"id":852,"date":"2020-03-29T10:02:42","date_gmt":"2020-03-29T10:02:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southyarewildlifegroup.org\/?p=852"},"modified":"2020-03-29T10:02:42","modified_gmt":"2020-03-29T10:02:42","slug":"an-open-discussion-on-climate-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southyarewildlifegroup.org\/an-open-discussion-on-climate-change\/","title":{"rendered":"An open discussion on climate change"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"great<\/p>\n

The \u201cAction on Climate Change\u201d open discussion held at the George & Dragon pub in Thurton, was a slightly different approach to a South Yare Wildlife Group meeting. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Over 20 of us introduced themselves and shared what we were keen to get out of the meeting and which areas of climate action we felt were of importance for SYWG to get involved with. The value of face to face discussion on this very broad topic were immediately apparent, as we were able to freely explore, question and verify areas of uncertainty with each other –\u00a0Do you share your thoughts, fears and hopes on climate change with people in your community?<\/i><\/p>\n

From some of the national and county data on carbon emissions shared by the committee members, attendees quickly brought the \u201cbig picture\u201d back to the grass roots actions and local concerns that all felt they could and would be able to do something about. We had brief introduction from members of the Yare Valley Climate Future group, who are taking a direct community approach and sharing ways in which individuals can work together to reduce the impact of our villages on the environment. The Climate Future group have started to work positively with Rockland Parish Council to generate information on a carbon audit for the area –\u00a0Have you asked your parish councilors how they are planning to tackle the climate crisis?\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

In terms of the added value South Yare Wildlife Group activities and members actions could bring to the climate debate, one focus seized upon rapidly was protection and planting of trees. Trees have become a global icon both as a solution to reducing carbon in the atmosphere and as suffering from the impacts of unsustainable human practices: think rainforest destruction, Australian bush fires, etc. Locally, the legal system for protecting existing trees, via the local tree warden network was discussed –\u00a0Do you know who your parish tree warden is and how they can protect trees at risk from harm?<\/i> Planting trees was suggested as either a individual action in gardens, or on a slightly larger scale through the various schemes set up to distribute tree and hedge \u201cwhips\u201d for planting in community or publicly accessed areas –\u00a0Do you have or know of a suitable area for tree planting and can arrange for trees to be planted?<\/i><\/p>\n

The main takeaway from the lively and honest discussion was that the main resource available to us in tackling climate change is actually ourselves. Without individual and community level actions to reverse our profligate use of carbon reserves, we won\u2019t have moved forward. The South Yare Wildlife Group committee is due to review its three yearly action plan in 2020.\u00a0<\/span>The positive suggestions and helpful courses of action raised at this meeting will be incorporated and acted upon –\u00a0Do you have enthusiasm to be involved with the South Yare Wildlife Group and be a part of this process? If so, please get in touch<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

Links and resources<\/b><\/p>\n