2007 Climate Change So What? Conference

Dressing-up fun for the real scary climate message on Halloween!

Hailed by delegates as ‘inspirational’ and offering real solutions on what they can do as individuals, as organisations, and in their communities the, Climate Change, So What?’ conference brought laughter and humour to help spread the message to the voluntary and community sector of Cornwall

Organised by local energy charity Community Energy Plus, in conjunction with the Cornwall Rural Community Council and Cornwall Interlink, Delegates knew they were in for something different when they arrived to be greeted by usherettes and given popcorn as they were shown to their seats to watch short films and their ’climate sins’ confessed to climate change vicars!

“The conference was full of fun, informative, generous and really heightened my level of awareness as to what’s really going on within the issues of climate change,” said Jill Lamede, from the Maia Project that hopes to take over the use of the Gaia Centre at Delabole. “Our project is based in a really remote part of North Cornwall so it’s really good to see that other people are concerned about the same issues. It has also provided me with contacts of other community groups so we can share practices and lobby for change.

Nationally acclaimed speakers highlighted the issues including Stephan Harrison and Dr Ashok Sinha.

Dr Stephan Harrison said, “ All climate change models show that the artic temperature is rising around 200 times faster than after the last ice age and that green house gases caused by human activity is the main driver behind this. We are already committed to 1.5 degree rise in temperature, which will rapidly increase the melting of the Artic and Greenland which could shut down the Gulf Stream, cause the loss of coral reefs, extreme heat waves and closer to home, we are likely to see a lot of flooding across costal areas in the south west, although no global model can predict this at a regional level.”

Mr and Mrs Dennis who represent Portreath Improvement Committee explained why they decided to attend the conference, “We have been noticing that the level of the tides at Portreath are getting higher and higher and we wanted to see if there is any link and what we can do about it. This conference has been really useful as we can go back to the committee armed with information that we hope will encourage members to be more ecologically responsible. Instead of spending money on Christmas decorations for the village, we’re going to recommend that we use the money to give every home in the village a low energy light bulb.”

The day events continued with a pub style quiz where 3 lucky winners received over £250 of Fairtrade goods courtesy of the Co-operative Group, a play by local production company Cascade, and strict 4 minute soapbox slots from local organisations refereed in a football. Many had come to hear a talk by Rob Hoskins, the founder of Transition Towns movement which is exploding across Cornwall including areas such as Penwith, Truro, Falmouth, Lostwithel, Helston, and Fowye.

St Endellion Parish Council were delighted to receive a £500 award for insulation from Miller Pattison and Grampound with Creed won the Calor Village of the Year Cornwall award which was presented by the High Sheriff of Cornwall Evelyn Boscawen.

Cynthea Downies, who attended on behalf of North Cornwall Alzeimiers Society said, “Most of the people I deal with are on means tested entitlements and it’s great to hear that there are organisations out there that can actually help make their homes warmer through insulation and heating grants.”

The day ended with all delegates all committing to do their bit to make a difference. Some of the actions included:

1. Push for a wood chip boiler for our community group 2. Insulate our village hall 3. Look into installing a small wind turbine and build eco-cabins on our campsite 4. Buy as much local, non-packaged goods as possible, drinking tap instead of bottled water and not use plastic bags 5. Help set up Transition Towns 6. Encourage my council to look into more energy saving measures 7. Travel to Europe by train rather than plane

This conference is sponsored by Defra’s Climate Challenge Fund, St Austell Brewery, Eden Project, Cornish Pirates, Cooperative Group, Howies, and, Climate Action Cornwall and Living Food of St. Ives.