Climate change can be an ‘invisible issue’ that people ignore because the worst effects are perceived as happening somewhere else, some time in the future. It is also often seen as someone else's problem, or an issue for business or politicians.
The truth is, however, that it is happening here and now, and our actions can lead to positive change on a personal, political and business level.
Community action matters because people are more likely to engage in new behaviour if they are influenced by people whose views they respect or share. When a group of people come together they can:
• bring people together
• increase understanding of climate change
• save time and money and resources
• see the benefits of their actions
As ever, people power is truly a force to be reckoned with!
To see examples of how communities and groups have tackled climate change, take a look at our case studies.
Thought piece
Professor Tim O’Riordan, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia and one of the Cut your Carbon judging panel writes on the value of community action:
"Doing good deeds together is fun. You get a kick out of knowing others are acting in tandem. If you and your neighbours but light bulbs, or insulation, or even hot water solar panels in bulk, then you save money individually since suppliers like the custom. In these troubled economic times, it is even more likely that suppliers will cut a decent deal.
If the task is shared in a village or a parish, all the more credit to you for working as a unit. Removing avoidable and expensive carbon dioxide emissions not only saves you money. When you act as a community you gain the sense of being a carbon saving entity. This should give you a sense of pride in your neighbours and a deep feeling of achievement. And remember, you success will be emulated by others if you show you have carved out the path to a lower carbon lifestyle while gaining new friends in the process.
It is worth recalling that every molecule of carbon dioxide, the gas which emanates from the burning of oil, gas and coal, warms the lower atmosphere for up to a full lifetime, i.e. about 80 years. So each molecule saved means lower long term temperature rise in the future. A comprehensive assessment by a tram of economists under the chairmanship of Sir Nicholas Stern estimated that a tonne of carbon causes social, environmental and economic costs amounting to around £75 if all of the appropriate costs are included with their very long term consequences. Given that the average person in the UK uses some 10 tonnes of carbon every year, if your community can save one tonne for each individual for each year, then a community of 1000 can save 10 000 tonnes in a decade and save planetary costs of some £750 000.
Not that this is purely a money issue. There is a huge moral case for this kind of action as it is the very poor and the most vulnerable who suffer most from the consequences of climate change.
We cannot get to the kind of really low levels of carbon usage unless we are all involved. It is a matter of all hands to the pump. In many case such action begins a vital process of lower use of water and of better water savings in the home as well as water harvesting in the house, by such means as placing barrels by the roofs and of draining excess rainwater into non drinking uses such as watering the garden and even flushing the toilet. What is important is the shift to a comprehensive care in all manner of consumption, in waste, in refurbishing redundant electrical equipment, and in growing organic food.
There is no end once a community has started the passage to sustainability. Just go for it, and make Eastern England the lead region in the land."