A new hub for climate action
It’s been a seafarer’s chapel, a haberdashery and a cafe. Now a historic building near Nelson’s port will become a focal point for local climate change action.
Earth Hub opens next week in the restored chapel at 235 Haven Rd, the former site of the Chapel Cafe. The new space will be a community hub for people and groups concerned about climate change, environmental issues and future resilience.
‘‘We are living in very important times,’’ said Jose Cano, Earth Hub’s director and founder. ‘‘This is a place open to anyone to meet, share knowledge and to act on it. We want to have conversations about what we can do as a community.’’
Cano likes the idea that the restored building will once again be used as a communal space.
As well as providing a home for groups like Extinction Rebellion and Action Climate, the hub will host workshops on anything from making climate change submissions to local government, to the lost art of preserving produce.
When people thought about climate change, many focused on rising sea levels, Cano said. ‘‘But that will be much later. Extreme weather events are going to be more prevalent.’’
Recently, the region has seen damage wrought by ex-tropical cyclone Gita, last summer’s drought, and the Pigeon Valley wildfires. ‘‘We have to be ready as a community for these events. It’s not something the Government or the council will take care of,’’ Cano said.
‘‘Meeting in person creates community. We think we are alone, but then you come here and we have 30 people with brilliant ideas and wanting to act, it gives you strength.’’
Cano, who is originally from Valencia in Spain, took an interest in climate change when he worked for a non-profit organisation in Thailand. As he travelled and saw environmental degradation, he realised that helping people required a focus on climate and ecology. ‘‘Otherwise, there is nothing.’’