Havant FOE Newsletter - December 2024

Southern Water Consultation

You only have until Wednesday 4^th December to respond to Southern Water’s plans for the next 5 years, which of course includes their plans for a water recycling plant at Broadmarsh.

Please take some time to respond to the consultation, it’s really easy as everything you need to know is in the Havant Matters website.

Havant Declares a Climate Emergency

At the full council meeting on Wednesday 20th November, Councillors agreed to a motion that commits the council to do everything within its power to take the steps to become a greener borough.

The need for urgent and transformative action has been identified as a priority following a shift in the political balance of the council following the election earlier this year when members of the Labour Party, Liberal Democrat Party and Green Party formed an alliance to take on a new political leadership.

Proposer of the motion, Councillor Grainne Rason, who is Cabinet Lead for Climate Emergency, Environment and Water Quality, said “The risk from extreme weather events, that may have an impact on our residents, businesses, and the environment, is escalating.

“We recognise the urgent threat of climate change to the borough, particularly due to its 56 km coastline, making many areas vulnerable to rising sea levels and flooding. This council has a responsibility to demonstrate leadership within our own estate and in our messaging to residents.”

Both the UK Government and Hampshire County Council declared a climate emergency that aims for net-zero emissions by 2050.

Havant Borough Council will also aim to achieve this through future policies, strategies, and action plans supporting a fair and just transition to a green economy, promoting green jobs, sustainable business practices, and workforce training. The council will also support the efforts of others in their efforts to become net-zero.

Havant Climate Change Partnership

Does your group have an interest in Climate change? Sign up now to the new Havant Climate Change Partnership!

The newly formed Havant Climate Change Partnership (HCCP) is calling all community groups across the Borough to join the group and share in our mission to combat the negative impacts of climate change.

They want all community led organisations, no matter what their area of interest, to join the partnership through which they can share and receive information about climate action projects across the Borough.

There is also an opportunity to be involved in accessing funding for climate action projects through this HCCP.

The group meet online on an 8-weekly basis, the next meeting is due to take place on:

Wednesday 29th January, 2pm to 3:30pm

If you would like to attend on behalf of your group then please email ClimateSIG@havant.gov.uk for more information.

The Climate & Nature Bill

Zero Hour’s campaign to get the Climate and Nature Bill into Parliament has had a massive boost when Liberal Democrat MP for South Cotswolds Roz Savage agreed to champion it as a Private Members’ Bill.

The next step comes on Friday 24th January, when the Bill will have its Second Reading. It needs 102 MPs to be present for the debate, otherwise it gets dropped. So please contact your MP and ask them if they’ll be there.

The Climate and Nature Bill is a plan to:

1. Make sure the UK cuts its emissions fairly and fully to stand the best chance of keeping 1.5°C alive
2. Make sure the UK reverses the destruction of nature by 2030
3. Involve citizens in deciding the fairest way forward

Signal in the Noise

‘Signal in the Noise’ is a new publication that tracks trends in public opinion. Led by Climate Barometer, and in collaboration with ACT Climate Labs

This online event will feature speakers from Climate Barometer capturing the past ‘15 months in 15 minutes’ plus discussion and analysis

The event is taking place on Wednesday 11th December between 12.30pm – 1.15pm

Register your interest here

Online Workshop 

Perhaps needed now more than ever, this workshop on Wednesday 22nd January is an introduction to Active Hope, a resilience and well-being practice designed to help us find and offer our best response to the crises unfolding in our world.

It shares tools that help us face the mess we’re in, as well as find and play our role in the collective transition to a life-sustaining society.

Find out more and register here

Sofa to Saddle

Hampshire Outdoors are pleased to offer free cycling courses to adults and families in Havant as part of our Sofa to Saddle project which has been funded by Energise Me.

The aim of the project is to promote cycling as an active way to travel. It is aimed at adults and families who would like to learn to ride and/or gain more confidence with cycling in a traffic-free environment or in your local community, on roads and on cycle paths.

We can tailor the sessions to suit your individual or family needs. An adult must be involved with the sessions which could be 1:1 or small groups.

More information can be found here or email bikeability.enquiries@hants.co.uk

COP 29 Failure

The annual COP29 climate talks have just come to an end in dramatic style, with what can only be described as a devastatingly bad deal for lower-income countries.

There’s no way to dress this up as good news. Climate justice groups and lower-income countries pushed hard for a meaningful agreement, demanding $1.3 trillion in climate finance to deal with the climate emergency.

This ‘climate debt’ is what the countries most responsible for climate change owe those who have done next to nothing to cause this crisis, but are often the worst hit. It was coined as the ‘climate finance COP’, but what we got was a climate finance flop. Rich nations tried to dress up the final deal as providing $1.3 trillion to lower-income countries.

But rich countries are only on the hook for $300 billion of this and there are no commitments on how this money will be provided, and ZERO guarantee that it won’t be given as loans, forcing countries in crisis into even more debt.

Read more in this blog from Debt Action and the article from the Energy & Climate Intelligence unit

Smart Living Festive Campaign

Christmas is a time when both our spending and levels of waste peak. The Smart Living Team and Holly are here to help!

From green gift guides to festive food hacks, they’ve got lots of suggestions on how to help you save money and help the planet.

Find out more at the Hampshire County Council website on How to make festive savings and reduce waste

Havant Climate Alliance Meeting
(via Zoom)

Monday 9th December – 9.30am

If you would like to join in on our Zoom meeting, please contact havclimate@gmail.com and we will send you a link.

Please use this link if you would like to Unsubscribe from further HCA Zoom Meetings at any time.