Frome Town Council is organising a series of free ‘Climate Panels’ to get ideas from the community about how we can create a safer future and meet the town’s climate emergency targets. The panels will happen at the Town Hall between 7 and 9pm on Tuesday evenings in November. A panel of local experts will introduce the topics and key opportunities, and a ‘world café’ style workshop will follow enabling groups to explore different solutions. These ideas will feed into the Council’s climate emergency plan due to be published in the new year.
The first panel on Tuesday 12th November, will focus on energy: how can we reduce the amount we use and generate energy cleanly?
The second panel on Tuesday 19th November, will explore transport: how can we reduce the need to travel and have cleaner air?
The third panel on Tuesday 26th November, will focus on resources: how can we reduce the impact of the things we buy, from food to consumables, and how will this impact on land use?
Somerset County Council’s Climate Summit will then follow at the Town Hall on Tuesday 3rd December and will be a key opportunity to find out more about their plans and highlight areas we need action on.
A ‘Climate Summit’ to feed into Somerset County Council’s climate plans will be part of this and the series will culminate with a talk on the 5th December from Transition Town founder Rob Hopkins on ‘Unleashing the power of imagination to create the future we want’.
The Council are keen for young people to be part of the process and will also take the Climate Panels to Frome College. Younger school children will be offered workshops and under 12s are invited to design images of a ‘positive, green future for Frome’. The winning images will be displayed at Frome Town Hall and one will be chosen to be printed as the mayor’s Christmas card.
Lizzie Boyle, Frome Town Councillor said ‘If we continue to use fossil fuels and resources as we are doing today, we are set for an uncertain future. The Met Office predicts that sea levels in the Bristol Channel could rise by at least a metre which would flood huge swathes of Somerset. The good news is that taking action on climate change has many benefits for us all, including cleaner air, affordable heating and a stronger local economy. Do join us if you can.’
The Climate Panels are free and do not require pre-booking; simply come to the Town Hall for a 7pm start.
Published 17/10/19
