Information and Inspiration from Winchester’s Climate Change conference
 
“We know we could create resource efficient regional economies where we can live happier, healthier lives. The question is ‘How can we mainstream these and similar approaches quickly enough to stop humanity from turning planet Earth into Easter Island?’ “ Sue Riddlestone,  Bioregional (speaker at the event)
 
Almost 200 people came to one or both days of the stimulating “Transition to Low Carbon” event in Winchester at the end of November 2009.  The first day of the event looked at policy frameworks, while the second considered community action. Material from this event is now available online at http://lowc.transitionsouthampton.org/. This includes presentation materials and notes from the interactive discussions which formed a key feature of the event.

 

There were a number of really excellent speakers at this event. On the first day Alan Simpson MP gave an inspirational talk on ‘Making the most of the crisis – the politics of climate change’, while other speakers informed us about a host of different ideas and concepts including some of the intricacies of carbon trading.   The second day brought together a number of remarkable individuals who had managed to implement environmental projects in their own communities. Adam Twine, from Westmill Co-operative in Wiltshire impressed everyone with his story (particularly when it was revealed that he had actually walked from Westmill near Swindon to Winchester for the event!). It was however a sobering thought that it had taken about 15 years from initiation of the project to get his wind farm up and running.  If one small project takes this long will it be possible to turn the whole country, and indeed the whole world, around to a low-carbon economy within a timeframe which will stop runaway climate change?  There is still a mountain to climb, but at least events like this show that there are plenty of inspirational mountaineers prepared to show the way.

 

Margaret Willmot, South Wiltshire Agenda 21