On Wednesday 22nd local environmental groups addressed students and staff and Bournemouth University at a networking event entitled Build Back Better. The groups, which included Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Planet Purbeck, Transition Poole, The Association of Sustainability Practitioners, Global Justice Now, Dorset CAN (Climate Action Network), SUBU and BU’s Sustainability Team presented a range of excellent ideas on how to address the climate crisis.
These ranged from changes in what we do as individuals to what needs to happen locally, nationally and internationally to shift away from a fossil fuel economy. Reduce, reuse and recycle were at the heart of personal changes – from avoiding the use of single use plastics such as soft drink and water bottles to avoiding fast fashion and buying local, organic and fair-trade items, a point made by Jenni Morisetti from Dorset CAN (Climate Action Network) who pointed to Dorset-based fashion designers working with pre-used garments. Such individual action, it was agreed, had to be in tandem with collective action and pressure on local and national governments to act now on the many issues scientists have been warning about for the last half century, at least.
Gwynn Jones from Transition Poole addressing Build Back Better on the multiple crises ahead.
Ellie Wills from BU’s Sustainability Team outlined the scale of the crisis the planet faced and how COP26 was out last best chance to fix it. Emma Davies from BU’s Student Union (SUBU) talked about the union’s sustainability plan, opportunities for students for volunteering and events throughout the year such as The Big Give where SUBU helped students to donate food, kitchen items, clothes and other items to local foodbanks and charities rather than throw them out and add to local waste. Doug Skinner from Greenpeace outlined ways students could get training in peaceful protest explaining the organisations core principles to bear witness, promote scientific research, non-violent radical change, and provide solutions. Martin Price from Friends of the Earth gave a sense of the history of environmental protests and coordination with other groups, explaining how much had been gained from previous campaigns and legal action around issues such as seal clubbing, nuclear testing and oil exploration.
Doug Skinner from Greenpeace explaining action needed to keep global temperature increases below 1.5C
Sara Pascoe from Global Justice Now explored how secretive international courts – set up under the bilateral and multilateral investment treaties known as Investment State Dispute Settlements (ISDS) have been used by corporations to sue governments around the world for millions in compensation for trying to limit or stop fossil fuel extraction and other forms of polluting activity. Some of these claims are for future, expected loss of earnings resulting from environmental protection measures nations are taking.
A panel of presenters answered questions from the audience at the end and it was agreed that Build Back Better was a springboard for future collaboration and events, such as a COP26 event at the university on Saturday 6th November led by Friends of the Earth which will be open the public. More details on that to follow.
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