We know the Climate is changing but how will this impact us in South East Wales? People living in Gwent (Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen) have told us that they want to take action to prepare for the effects of a changing climate (climate adaptation) and be more involved in decisions that affect them.
The Lottery’s Climate Action Fund aims to link climate action to the everyday lives and interests of local communities, as well as influence communities at a regional level. This seems like a perfect opportunity to bring together what’s already happening in Gwent and work together to be better prepared for the effects of climate change in the future.
A group of Gwent Public Sector organisations (including the five Local Authorities, Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations (GAVO), Gwent Wildlife Trust and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board), under the partnership of Gwent Green Grid, have put some ideas together based on work with communities and knowledge in the area. We want to make sure that these ideas are in line with what communities want and are interested to find out what you think.
This programme will be focused on the wider issue of climate adaptation – how the changing climate will affect communities and what we can do to reduce the impact of these changes, especially on the most vulnerable – as opposed to purely climate mitigation – taking action to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses that we put into the atmosphere.
DRAFT Gwent Climate Ready Communities Proposal
The programme will have three main strands:
Adapting to climate risks
Working with communities and climate experts to understand the risks posed by climate change in Gwent and agree a plan on how we can prepare and adapt to those risks. Together we will produce a climate risk assessment, adaptation strategy, and adaptation action plans for the region to identify priority areas that we must address in order to deal with the impacts of a changing climate.
Community action
Offer opportunities for groups, including those currently not engaged in climate activism, to work with expert organisations to take practical action on the ground that will benefit their community and reduce the impact of climate change (e.g. planting trees and other plants to reduce the impact of flooding and also create new habitats for wildlife). Increase community action through development of local and regional networks to share resources, knowledge, learning, ideas and provide mutual support.
Community voice
Provide communities with the skills, confidence and opportunity to utilise the unique regional public sector organisational structure that we have within Gwent for communities to have a say in the decisions that affect them. This includes organisations such as the five Local Authorities, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Natural Resources Wales, the Fire Service and Gwent Police.
How could this be delivered?
Voice of communities is central to developing a range of activities, which could include:
Developing a climate risk assessment to understand the risks of a changing climate at both a regional and local level
Running face to face engagement events and workshops
Supporting local groups to develop or begin climate action, including communications support and assistance with developing opportunities to carry out practical actions
Running regional networking events to bring together groups
Opportunities for communities to talk to decision-makers across the public sector
Subject to successful funding, this will be a 3-year programme, with an emphasis on building sustainable networks that can last beyond the initial funding. Please could we have any feedback on this proposal before Friday October 11th.