Kate Damiral was Climate Change Project Officer at NCVO from April 2011 until April 2013. Kate no longer works for NCVO but her posts have been archived on this site for reference.
Here at NCVO, we’re getting ready to celebrate Climate Week which runs 12th-18th March 2012.
We’ve got various plans in the pipeline including a special event and competition for NCVO staff, the promotion of low carbon menus to customers using our conference suite during Climate Week, and we’ll also be holding one of our climate change project workshops too.
Staff event
The session for NCVO staff will feature:
- a presentation on the global dimensions of the issue from Alison Doig, Senior Adviser on Climate Change and Sustainable Development at Christian Aid.
- an update on NCVO’s vulnerable people and climate change project.
- an activity exploring the implications of the inevitable climate changes we face here in the UK.
- information about the environmentally friendly elements of the current building work here at Regent’s Wharf – we’re creating a new fourth floor and taking the opportunity to retrofit the existing structure.
- a low carbon lunch – with a tasty vegan curry on the menu.
Carbon competition
At the event we’ll also be launching a month-long carbon competition for staff, which will be based on a Carbon Ration Book designed for the new economics foundation a few years ago. It’s styled on the ration books from the Second World War and feels authentically retro-chic – if not slightly tongue-in-cheek!
The target in the ration book is actually really tough because it’s based on an annual individual carbon emission allowance of just 1.15 tonnes – the current UK average is around 10 tonnes. The ration book target represents the global per capita share of emissions we ideally need to achieve to avoid runaway climate change.
That’s a very tall order. So as well as cutting down on carbon-intensive activities, we’ll also be offering competitors the chance to create some carbon credits, for example, by encouraging other people to reduce their carbon footprints, or pledges to implement long-term changes. I’ll let you know who wins!
Climate change project
Meanwhile, our everyday work will also continue so – very appropriately – we’ll also be running one of our climate change project workshops during Climate Week and will continue to recruit BME organisations from Greater Manchester to join the latest phase of the project.
More ideas for Climate Week
If we had more time, we’d also love to run the Climate Week pub quiz, take part in the one hour Climate Week challenge, or try out some of the low carbon recipes from different celebs – in fact I think I’ll try out the one for Sicilian Cauliflower Pasta offered by Paul McCartney’s Meat Free Monday campaign team myself – yum…
As you can see, there are loads of ways to get involved with Climate Week and it’s not too late to start planning. What could your organisation opt to do? www.climateweek.com
Posts written by guests who have contributed to NCVO projects and events. 
