Sign up and together we can make our voices heard on climate change

ERIN MCDAID of the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust on how we can all band together to help tackle climate change, and how even small changes – like ‘meat-free Mondays’ – can make a difference

WHEN it comes to the debate around tackling climate change the focus can often be on the damaging impacts of temperature rises and concerns about the future.

In the face of seemingly relentless bad news, remaining in the right frame of mind to take positive action can be difficult.

On November 1, world leaders will gather in Glasgow for the COP26 UN Climate Conference and we have to hope that the message about the urgent need for action is getting through - but hope alone is not enough. We must continue to voice our concerns and to demand action. Now really is the time.

This week is the Great Big Green Week, the largest event for climate and nature ever seen in the UK. As members of the Climate Coalition, The Wildlife Trusts have been taking part.

Whilst the issues we are raising are serious, there should be a sense of positivity around the week, with people agreeing to take positive steps to limit their impact on climate change and sharing positive stories about the actions of others.

We’ve been celebrating how communities are taking action to tackle climate change and protect local green spaces and hope that these stories inspire others to act.

Alongside celebrating action and sharing ideas, we have been calling on politicians to make it clear where they stand on taking the necessary action to tackle climate change, with businesses, national institutions and media outlets all joining in – to put pressure on the UK Government to up its game on climate change.

At a time when the impacts of extreme weather events caused by climate change on both people and place have never been more visible, it is refreshing to focus on positive actions as a way of demonstrating we can turn things around – if enough of us act and politicians make the right choices.

As we gear up to the COP26 Conference the eyes of the world will be on the UK and this means that both parliament and local councils will be keen to be seen as being ambitious in tackling climate related issues – giving us possibly our best chance yet of being heard.

You can take part by signing thetimeisnow declaration; and there is still time to make a pledge to do more at home via the Great Big Green Week website.

Simple actions you can take include signing up for a renewable energy tariff or focusing on reducing energy consumption.

You could reduce food waste or limit your meat consumption by committing to “meat-free Mondays” or make a commitment to repairing household items rather than simply replacing them.

Alongside taking action at home, it is also clear that some of the best ways to tackle climate change are found in nature.

Wetlands act as natural flood defences, trees improve air quality and lock away carbon, and peatlands – such as those found in north Nottinghamshire – provide vital carbon stores if properly protected and cared for.

By supporting nature, including in our homes and gardens, we can help tackle climate change. Simple actions include starting a compost heap to reduce food waste and provide wildlife habitat, leaving an area of your lawn uncut to allow wild flowers to flourish or simply spending time in nature noticing change and being inspired to take action.

When we band together, we can be a collective voice for change that will become impossible to ignore.

Make sure you use your voice to tell politicians that you want a greener, more wild rich and healthier world that works for people and nature.

Let’s send a message to the Prime Minister as he prepares to welcome his peers for the UN Climate Summit – asking him to build back better and take action now on climate change.

Sign the climate declaration at thetimeisnow.uk/declaration. Find out more about Great Big Green Week at https://greatbiggreenweek. com.