Winchester Action on Climate Change

Winchester’s City Councillors have been encouraged to lead by example by making a New Year commitment to reducing the carbon footprints of their households.    Robert Hutchison, the Chairman of WinACC, has written to all 57 elected members of the City Council asking them to join Winchester Action on Climate Change (WinACC).    Membership of WinACC is open to all individuals, households and organisations in Winchester district that measure and report their carbon footprint and commit to reducing them.  

WinACC is currently recruiting for a professional Co-ordinator to build on the excellent work of WinACC’s first Co-ordinator, Catrina Pickering, who is leaving WinACC in early February to live and work in Oxford.  The Co-ordinator will work closely with the Trustees, the partner organisations, and the Chairman. 

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Climate change is an urgent issue and it’s everyone’s issue. By joining WinACC, you will be acknowledging that everyone has a part to play. Joining as a member is a simple action and will help you take ownership of your carbon footprint as an individual or household. To become a member we ask you to calculate your carbon footprint. The current size of your carbon footprint is not important at this stage – what’s important is your commitment to reducing it.  Find out more....

WinACC will be holding its second training series for Low Carbon Champions’ in early 2009.  A Low Carbon Champion is someone who is willing and able to influence and encourage others in their neighbourhood, workplace, school, or other setting to talk about climate change and the benefits of reducing their carbon footprint.  An introductory session will be held on Monday 26 January, 7.30-9.30pm which will be followed by four sessions on consecutive Monday evenings starting from Monday 9 February.  For further information or/and to book your place, please contact Catrina Pickering, catrina.pickering@winacc.org.uk, 01962 827083.
 

Liza Nahajski, a WinACC Low Carbon Champion will be delivering a series of low carbon sessions to small groups of church congregations. These sessions are designed to explore the prospect of living with a lower carbon footprint and will be followed by a meeting to reflect on what has been achieved and to discuss further action plans. The first of these sessions will be held at the Milner Hall, St Peter Street, Winchester. Anyone who is interested in taking this initiative to his/her parish is welcome to attend this first session. To book a place or for help in arranging sessions within your own congregations contact Liza Nahajski on 01962 868714 or email liza.nahajski@btinternet.com.

Members of WinACC's Science and Technology Advisory Panel (STAP) have published their predictions of what some aspects of life in Winchester could be like in the year 2015, expressed as they might be seen by someone living in that year.  Click here to view the Winchester in 2015 report.

Among the changes that they foresee are that sales of bottled water will have ‘almost dried up’ by 2015; there will have been a great uptake in home insulation – with virtually all houses with cavity walls properly insulated; an increase in youngsters cycling to school; and the demise of 4x4 and Sport Utility Vehicles on Winchester’s streets. 

WinACC's Science and Technology Advisory Panel is holding a discussion on Cap and Trade which will be facilitated by guest speaker Dr Nick Bardesley of Southampton University.  Cap and Trade is a regulatory system whereby limits are placed on the amount that each polluter can pollute.  If they don't use their allowance, they can then trade it to other pollutants.   All welcome.  For further information, please contact David Knight, david.knight77_at_ntlworld.com. 

"From Bust to Bloom’ is the title of a panel discussion on climate change which is being organised by Winchester Green Party.  The speakers will be Caroline Lucas (Green MEP and UK Green Party leader), Tony Juniper (Environmental Campaigner and former Director of Friends of the Earth), Robert Hutchison (Chair, Winchester Action on Climate Change) and Rob Hopkins (Founder, Transition Towns).  Tickets cost £3 which includes a free glass of mulled wine.  Booking is recommended.  To book and for further information, please contact Alison Craig, alisoncraig@cobbetts27.freeserve.co.uk. 

Oliver's Battery Greening Campaign have now published the results of phase one of their campaign.  In total, they have saved 72 tonnes of CO2.  They will be launching phase 2 in 2009.  To find out more including details of how to get involved, see: www.greening-ob.org.uk.

The high-powered (but low carbon) WinACC Transport Group had its first meeting on 28 November.   For the next couple of months the group will be concentrating on identifying a short list of priority areas for effective action to reduce carbon emissions from transport in the Winchester district.  This should prove to be valuable input to the new three-year Climate Change Action Plan which WinACC is helping to develop with Winchester City Council and Winchester District Strategic Partnership.  The next meeting of the Transport Action Group will be on Friday 16 January at 14.30.  Further details from Jock Macdonald, jaalex@ntlworld.com.