Campaigns Update

The looming threat of the climate emergency can feel daunting at the best of times. ‘What am I to do, just this one person?’ - you might ask.

Well, actually, the answer is lots! From eating your own garden (not literally) to taking a greener travel option, there’s choices abound that can make your life healthier for the planet and others.

This isn’t to say the big decisions aren’t needed – they absolutely are. But each of us can make a difference, and we’ve laid out our top ten ways we think you might be able to do that.

With the COP26 global climate conference hosted in Glasgow in 2021, you’d expect the host country to be leading on climate crisis-bursting plans with flying colours – including by adapting the rules that govern what development happens and where.

But despite progress in some areas, the toolkit we call the English planning system hasn’t even nearly caught up with the government’s legally binding target to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, leaving many local councils who want to go further and faster confused and frustrated.

Just how is the government planning to achieve net-zero while the planning system continues to send out the wrong signals on new development? The solutions are there to change things – now we need action.

At CPRE, we believe that renewable energy done well means community energy – renewable energy projects that are proposed, designed and owned by local people.
 
Not only does community energy make it more likely for local communities to prioritise the area they live in, it also means that any profit made will also be fed back into the local communities, and not disappear into the pockets of large corporations.

Though the climate emergency threatens to damage many of our most loved landscapes and ecosystems, local communities have a huge role to play in their protection, conservation, and future prosperity, and here is how.

November is a month to celebrate trees, kick up piles of leaves, collect pine cones and watch them open with indoor heat. Take a look at Guardian country diarist Susie White's top tips for what to spot in the countryside this month.

Our CPRE Christmas cards are available to order. We have 6 fantastic designs this year, including our popular Christmas Robin and Snowy Sycamore Gap.

Made from 100% biodegradable materials, every purchase made will support our countryside, ensuring it continues to thrive for generations to come. Each pack contains a total of 10 cards and costs £5.00 plus postage.