2021 is a landmark year as COP26 will be held in the UK in Glasgow 31 October - 12 November 2021. COP26 (Conference of the Parties) is the 26^th event of an annually held UN summit, where countries that signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meet to discuss Climate Change. Its aim is to secure global net zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach, adapt to protect communities and natural habitats, mobilise finance, and work together to deliver.

The importance of COP 26 cannot be underestimated, and each one of us needs to play our part. Getting to net zero in Coventry is not something we can do alone so we must all work together to build a cleaner, brighter, and greener future for Coventry and beyond. Take a look at some of the events and activities in the area in the run up to COP26 and see how you can get involved.

The next energy price cap, due to come into effect in April next year, could increase by a further £280 – before the £139 hike has even kicked in, a new report has revealed.

Rapidly rising wholesale costs, that has sent the industry into meltdown, mean prices are likely to soar with energy suppliers hoping to cling to survival, according to analysis by comparison website, the Energy Shop.

It comes at a time where over four providers collapsed last week with near a million consumers moved to a new supplier.

Over the past five weeks, since the latest energy price cap was announced, the increases in wholesale prices have been 'staggering' with the natural gas prices for winter 2021 rising more than fourfold over the past 12 months, according to Intercontinental Exchange. Read more.

As a business are you struggling to understand your energy bills? Worried about forecasting future energy budgets? Get in touch with the Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme for a free energy audit and expert advice on how you can reduce bills and lower carbon emissions.

What will the future look like? How will we live, work and travel? How will the technology being developed today impact on our lives in the future?  Coventry, Warwickshire and the West Midlands’ world-leading transport innovation is showcased during a year of celebration and activities at the Coventry Transport Museum.

Alternatively, you can view it virtually @CovTM‘s brand-new online exhibition #OurFutureMoves.  Explore unique highlights from Coventry, Warwickshire, and the West Midland’s world-leading transport innovators. From autonomous vehicles and drones to AI facial recognition cars, submarines and even satellites and rockets – a world of discovery awaits. 

What better place to demonstrate our ability to innovate – past, present and future, than in the home of the cycle industry and birthplace of the motor car in the UK.

Cycle regularly around Coventry? Want to help improve the experience? We need you! Transport for West Midlands is looking for 200 cyclists to take part in a new project which looks to improve infrastructure and safety for cyclists. They are looking for cyclists who ride regularly in Coventry to use a See.Sense bike light (reduced from £44.99 to £10.00, incl. delivery) and be a part of the innovative project.

Data will be gathered anonymously from journeys showing both positive and negative conditions faced by cyclists, including other road-user behaviours and uneven riding surfaces. The results will be used to inform local Councils where improvements can be made and make our city even easier and safer to travel around by bike.

Apply for your light and take part today 

The Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the University of Warwick are hosting another Sustainable Production Innovation Network event on Tuesday 19 October 3pm – 4.30pm.  The theme is “Sustainable Design”.  

This will be their fifth event of the series, aimed at local manufacturing SMEs with the intention to introduce topics, raise awareness of sustainability and introduce practices that businesses could take up in their organisation.  

So much of a product's carbon footprint and wider social and environmental impact is fixed at the design stage, yet design for sustainability is rarely talked about. What factors should be considered during design to ensure a product performs to specification, as well as being environmentally friendly and thorough down to the last detail?  

Find out more about the event.