Reading Climate Action Network website
Introduction
John Christensen, who chairs the Tax Justice Network, gave a great talk on equitable options to finance the necessary changes to hit carbon net zero. You can read it on https://www.taxjustice.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Just-Transition-RICS-11-MAR-2020.pdf
there is a two part newsletter giving more details about these ideas , including methods of sustainable cost reporting (SCORE) of greenhouse gas emissions. https://www.taxjustice.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/TJF_2020_11-2_V3.pdf
The Environment Agency is hosting 7 public drop-in events from 26 February to 20 March. Come along to find out more about flood risk in Reading and Caversham, what residents can do to prepare and our updated plans for a possible flood scheme. There will also be information on how climate change may increase flood risk in the future.
Over 700 properties are at risk from a major flood in Reading and Caversham. The latest design to reduce flood risk includes a combination of flood walls and embankments, temporary flood barriers and a channel.
After listening to feedback from the public, we have made changes to the proposed design and have new information to share. At the drop-ins, there will be landscape plans and photos showing what the scheme could look like if it is built. There will also be photos of historical flooding and information about local flood risk and how you can sign up for warnings.
It is important to note that the project is still at an early stage, so it does not yet have the relevant permissions and may not go ahead.
If you would like to find out more about the project please visit the website https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/north-reading-and-lower-caversham-flood-alleviation-scheme/north-reading-and-lower-caversham-flood-alleviation-scheme
If you have any questions please speak to a project member At the drop ins or email the team at readingandcavershamscheme@environment-agency.gov.uk
Low Carbon Workspaces is a grant scheme in Berkshire helping small and medium sized enterprises to make energy efficiency improvements or reduce their carbon emissions. Maximum grants of up to £5,000 are available to cover up to a third of the cost of energy efficiency projects.
The programme is operated by a specialist agency which will help appraise the project quoted cost and offer a green diagnostic to help identify other energy efficiency upgrades that could be made and how the scheme may be able to offer partial funding, subject to a successful application. Applications go to a Grant Panel who usually provide their decision within 3 or 4 days, although the operators stress that grants cannot be paid out retrospectively so it’s essential to follow the application process before undertaking any work or appointing suppliers.
You can find full details at: https://www.lowcarbonworkspaces.co.uk/
Next time you visit a National Trust property remember your reusable cup and claim a 25p discount for the hot drink
The general takeaway containers from the Trust are now made from plant based materials, but the Trust wants to reduce overall waste.
thanks to everyone who supported this new renewable energy scheme for Reading,. Construction can now start
This is the forth in the series of interviews that I had with the wonderful Ayo Sokale. In this, Ayo asks me about ‘Climate Change and Children’. My son was born close to time I started my role as Chair of the RCCP so this is very real for me. It is so important that we create a good future for him, and all of our children. We need to push hard, believe and make it happen…and there is no more time to wait.
All the best,
Chris
I am delighted to share this first Adaptation Plan for Reading (please click on the following buttons to open the PDF documents, which you can view, download or print from).
Some of these adaptation ideas have already been picked up in the development of our New Strategy. We will learn more though over the next few years, as we get better prepared for the future.
For more information please see the following summary of the Town Hall event from October 2019.
The Reading Climate Change Partnership has commissioned a first Adaptation Plan for Reading. This will help us to understand some of the climate-related risks that we face in our town. It will also give us some guidance about how we should respond to prepare for these changes.
On the 22 October 2019 we held an event at the Town Hall, to give an introduction to the plan. This was followed by a good opportunity for public questions and answers.
As Chair of the RCCP, I gave a introduction, highlighting the need to think about climate change adaptation, and why we commissioned this report.
Jason Lowe (Met Office [based at Reading University]) then talked about the impacts of climate change for the UK and Reading specifically.
Lisa Horrocks (Mott MacDonald) has been developing the Adaptation Plan. She talked about what is in there and some of the key lessons for us. The plan is divided into the following sections:
Finally I returned to give a short presentation on what is next:
We will publish the plan on the ReadingCAN website after the general election. We need to wait until then due to government pre-election restrictions which affect some partners (notably the Chair of RCCP).
Chris Beales
November 2019
Exciting News: the Reading Hydro scheme has all of its necessary permits and will be built and commissioned in 2020 at a cost of £700,000.
You can be a part of this by investing as little as £75
If you think you might like to invest in this renewable energy project for the town. then please go to the Reading hydro website and read ALL about it before making your decision: the plans, the risks, the potential investment return and the community benefits
For more information about the scheme and to access the share offer document go to https://hydro.readinguk.org
The Reading Climate Change Partnership has commissioned a first Adaptation Plan for Reading. This will help us to understand some of the climate-related risks that we face in our town. It will also give us some guidance about how we should respond to prepare for these changes.
On the 22 October 2019 we held an event at the Town Hall, to give an introduction to the plan. This was followed by a good opportunity for public questions and answers.
As Chair of the RCCP, I gave a introduction, highlighting the need to think about climate change adaptation, and why we commissioned this report.
Jason Lowe (Met Office [based at Reading University]) then talked about the impacts of climate change for the UK and Reading specifically.
Lisa Horrocks (Mott MacDonald) has been developing the Adaptation Plan. She talked about what is in there and some of the key lessons for us. The plan is divided into the following sections:
Finally I returned to give a short presentation on what is next:
We will publish the plan on the ReadingCAN website after the general election. We need to wait until then due to government pre-election restrictions which affect some partners (notably the Chair of RCCP).
Chris Beales
November 2019
Over 50 organisations gathered on 2nd October 2019 to contribute to the development of the Reading Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2020-25 and to launch the Reading Business Climate Action Network which will provide information, support and resources to help businesses respond appropriately to the challenges posted by climate change.
If you work for a business in or around Reading and would like to become part of the Reading Business Climate Action Network please join our Linked In Group.
You can find a copy of the slides from the event below.