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Two weeks ago The Conversation’s Imagine newsletter looked at “our hot, lonely, plastic planet”: By the end of 2024, nearly 200 nations will have met at three conferences to address three problems: biodiversity loss, climate change and plastic pollution. Colombia will host talks next week to assess global progress in protecting 30% of all land… Read More »“Climate change, biodiversity loss and resource depletion are not isolated problems”

Active Devon says that travelling actively is great for our health, wellbeing and the environment – and, indeed, around the county there have been projects to advance just that: for example, Exmoor National Park has secured funding for walking and cycling upgrades and a new strategy is set to transform travel in the South West. The county council is asking… Read More »Active travel!

An interesting comment in the New York Times looks at why the two US parties are still neck-and-neck – and suggests it’s because they are “more like quasi-religions, where power lies with priesthood — the dispersed array of media figures, podcast hosts and activists who run the conversation, define party orthodoxy and determine the boundaries… Read More »What’s the carbon footprint of the internet – and what can we do about it?

Looking to make your home more energy efficient? The Exeter Community Energy [ECOE] group offer a Retrofit Service – including a free home visit: Many of us are concerned about the rising costs of energy and the climate crisis.  As a homeowner or landlord, you may be keen to reduce your energy bills or invest… Read More »Saving energy and money : retrofitting our homes: Thursday 24 October

The Sci Fest was set up well over a decade ago thus: The Sidmouth Science Festival was started by a small team from the Vision Group for Sidmouth part of the Transition Town initiative… With so many technical issues being faced by society we believe that our communities will make better decisions if they have a… Read More »The Sidmouth Science Festival and the climate

There’s lots happening at the Sidmouth Science Festival. Tomorrow at Super Science Saturday, there is a full day of scientific fun around Sidmouth with lots to do for families of all ages as well as grown ups. At the same event on Saturday 5th, Exeter Community Energy [ecoe.org.uk] will be promoting their “cosy home” work – and… Read More »‘Cosy homes’, climate and tackling plastic @ Sidmouth Science Festival

Back in May 2019, a range of public, private and voluntary organisations from across Devon came together to form the Devon Climate Emergency Response Group, to declare a climate and ecological emergency and to endorse the principles of the Devon Climate Declaration. The group took the positive step of declaring that the Devon Climate Emergency was all about creating a… Read More »The challenge and opportunity of climate change in Devon… and beyond

CAPS and the town council have been promoting the home carbon calculator. After all, it would be good for our pockets to know how much heat our houses are losing. And so, one of the the Four Aims of CAPS is “to help households reduce their carbon footprint” – and “to explain when this can help save individuals money.” It’s… Read More »How the ‘carbon footprint’ idea came about – and how to reclaim it

The Power for People campaign has been working on getting community energy into the new Energy Bill, as reported on the CAPS news pages. Others have been pressing for the same – as Ripple Energy calls for easier access to community energy, the Ecologist says the GB Energy Bill ‘must be bolder’ and Community Energy… Read More »MPs calling for community energy to be added to the new Energy Bill

Some ten years ago the SidEnergy project was set up as the community energy group for the Sid Valley – but it had to halt its projects due to the withdrawal of feed-in-tariffs. Today, however, the CAPS project is keen to explore the options, as it looks to local energy production. In parallel, the Power… Read More »Getting community energy into the new Energy Bill