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Devon Climate Emergency | May 2023
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Welcome To Our May Newsletter!
 The world is warming, and the Southwest needs to adapt.
The Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Climate Adaptation Strategy opens for consultation today. It’s designed to help you understand the risks your community might face and how to respond to climate change.
Acting now will create a fairer, healthier, and more prosperous society in the years to come.
Give your feedback at https://www.climateresilient-dcios.org.uk/
You can also attend a free webinar on Tuesday 16th May, 5-6pm to hear a breakdown of the Strategy and ask questions. Register for free here.
The consultation closes on Friday 30th June. See our update on the Adaptation Strategy further down the page for more information.
 There are many actions already taking place across Devon that are successfully reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing the Devon Carbon Plan. Here are our picks for the month!
You can see more positive actions and stay updated throughout the month by visiting the Taking Action page on our website. |
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Boatbuilding Firm In East Devon To Make Components For UK’s First Fully Electric Workboat
 Coastal Workboats Limited (CWL) are relocating to Honiton’s Heathpark Industrial Estate, and will manufacture components for the UK’s first fully electric workboat and charging station.
The scheme will secure 30 local jobs and be the first to demonstrate the commercial potential of electric boats.
It is funded by £6 million from the Government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Fund, which helps maritime industries to eliminate carbon emissions and increase efficiency.
Image copyright: Damen Shipyards |
Langage Green Hydrogen Project To Be Backed By Government
 The Langage Green Hydrogen project is the only project in the South West to be backed by Government as announced in March.
Subject to agreement with Carlton Power, the Government will provide financial support to the project through its Hydrogen Business Model process, which aims to stimulate the growth of the hydrogen economy in the South West and across the UK.
The Langage Green Hydrogen project will use renewable energy to produce green hydrogen fuel. The development will have an initial capacity of 10 MW, which will produce enough hydrogen to heat the equivalent of 14,000 homes. |
Launch Of Connect Plymouth For Electric Car And Bike Hire
Connect Plymouth has now launched and will offer e-bikes and electric cars for hire around the the city.
When fully operational, Beryl Bikes will have a 500-strong fleet of electric bikes for hire from over 90 sites.
There will be an additional 300 parking bays across the city with electric vehicle charge points provided by Wenea. Plymouth City Council has awarded a contract to Co Cars to run a fleet of electric car club vehicles within Plymouth. |
New Tree Nursery Opens In Broadclyst
 The Saving Devon’s Treescapes project, led by Devon Wildlife Trust, has opened a new tree nursery in Broadclyst, East Devon.
Within two years, the nursery will be producing 10,000 young trees to be distributed for free to local landowners and community projects. The trees will then be planted across Devon’s countryside to boost the county’s wildlife.
Image credit: Mike Waller. |
Community Fridge Food Hub Fund Open For Applications
 Community Fridge groups can now apply for the Hubbub Community Fridge Food Hub Fund to help local residents learn about sustainable, affordable and healthy living.
Up to 50 groups will get £7000 to fund a range of activities. See the web page for more details.
Applications close on Wednesday 31st May. |
Improve Your Mental Wellbeing Through Positive Action On Climate Change
It’s #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek from the 15th to 21st May – learn more about the mental health benefits of engaging with the environment and taking action on climate change.
The Five Ways to Wellbeing are simple steps you can take to help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life. Here in Devon, you can find plenty of inspiration for making changes that are good for you and the planet.
Make sure to check our social media during the week for a full climate-friendly guide to the Five Ways to Wellbeing.
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Hearing From Devon's Volunteers
 How do you measure the impact of volunteering? Recycle Devon and Community Action Groups (CAG) Devon asked seven volunteers to share their story of what it means to them.
View all the stories on the Recycle Devon website, titled CAG Storytelling. |
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Update On The Adaptation Strategy
The Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (DCIoS) Climate Adaptation Strategy opens for consultation on Tuesday 9th May.
It is intended to help communities across the Southwest to better understand the risks their area might face in future, as climate change increasingly affects the UK. It will also help them to adapt to these changes, by identifying the parties responsible for ensuring community safety.
Climate change will continue to impact Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Critical infrastructure, community assets like schools and hospitals, homes, the environment, businesses and public services are all sensitive to weather and climate. Taking a proactive approach to adapt to climate change will result in many benefits, which will create a fairer, healthier, more resilient and prosperous society now and into the future.
The DCIoS Climate Impacts Group (CIG) commissioned this Strategy, led by consultants RSK Group (including subsidiaries ADAS and WRc). After the consultation is complete, they will consider any feedback before finalising the Strategy and working with organisations to put it into practice.
This is a crucial opportunity to comment on key climate issues on a local level and shape the region’s future in the face of the climate crisis. Give your feedback by going to www.climateresilient-dcios.org.uk and reading the Strategy, then filling out the questionnaire.
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 Find out about upcoming events across Devon below.
 Naturally Healthy May Webinars; Online; Throughout May, 12:30pm – 1:00pm
The Devon Local Nature Partnership will be promoting opportunities to encourage everyone to get outside and be naturally healthy this month.
They will be hosting three lunch-time webinars (12:30-1:00pm) to kick start your interest in Devon's incredible wildlife;
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 Carbon Literacy Training for Cultural Organisations in East Devon; Online; Through May and June
Arts and Culture East Devon (ACED) are running a free online Carbon Literacy Course to help cultural organisations based in East Devon reduce their carbon footprint in response to the climate emergency. The course, delivered by South West Museums Development, will give you an understanding of what climate change is, the scale of its effects, and how cultural organisations fit into the global, national and local picture. You will complete your training by making an individual pledge, and an organisational pledge, of what you can do and is in your power to achieve to make a significant difference to your carbon impact.
The course will be delivered in three modules. To become certified as Carbon Literate, you must complete the entire course and submit your individual and organisational pledges.
Session 1 – self-led online learning module
Session 2 & 3 - participant sessions via Zoom: Tuesday 6th June 10:00am –12:30pm and Thursday 8th June 9:15am – 1:15pm |
 Green Infrastructure: How can we build a sustainable future?; Online; Tuesday 16th May, 2:00pm – 3:30pm
This online event with the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures will invite attendees to ask the question: How can we build a sustainable future?
A panel with experts will discuss the top priorities and challenges for decarbonising infrastructure, cutting edge research in the area and best practices for building a greener world.
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 Devon Community Resilience Forum; Bridestowe Village Hall, Pool Hill, Okehampton, EX20 4EW; Wednesday 17th May, 9:30am – 4:30pm
This free event is for community groups and interested individuals around Devon to find out how to make their community more resilient.
The morning will consist of updates and advice from local experts, plus the opportunity to talk to community groups about how they put together their community emergency plan. After a free, local, buffet lunch, you will be able to participate in an emergency exercise that will highlight what you can do to prepare for all eventualities. |
 Exmouth Vegan-Eco Market; Ocean, Queens Drive, Exmouth, Devon, EX8 2AY; Sunday 21st May, 10:30am – 3:30pm
It's almost time for this year's Exmouth Vegan-Eco Market!
The market is a zero-waste event with compostable food containers, recycled/recyclable packing, segregated bins for maximum recycling/composting and no single-use plastic.
Go along to try local and delicious food, browse sustainable products and have a fun day out with other eco-friendly folks in Exmouth.
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 Co-Benefits Webinar with the Met Office; Online; Wednesday 24th May, 3:00pm – 4:00pm
The Met Office will be hosting a webinar on the co-benefits of climate change action.
Hear from speakers from the University of Leeds, the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and Belfast City Council to discuss co-benefits of climate action such as those on health and wellbeing. |
 Community Energy Champion Training; Totnes; Wednesday 24th May and Tuesday 30th May, 1:00pm – 4:30pm
Totnes residents can receive free comprehensive training on the subject of household energy from experienced Energy Advisors.
You will learn to educate others in your community about the rising cost of energy, where to turn to for advice and how to make the most efficient energy savings.
There are only ten places available, so book your place quickly. |
 Forest Rising Workshops; Plymouth, South Devon, West Devon and Dartmoor; April – July
The free Forest Rising programme gives 16-28 year olds the opportunity to get involved with the creation and running of the Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest. They will develop ideas, design woodland habitats and activity they want to see, sit at the table with decision makers and implement their ideas in relation to nature recovery.
The programme includes several workshops and a final event to bring everyone together. See the full list of dates, times and locations on their website. |
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