Hi Lambeth 500 Member 

Coronavirus has changed so much about our lives in Lambeth. As we look to the future and think about how we recover, we must make sure that what we do supports our residents and environment to thrive. We want to get our residents talking about climate change and make a plan for action.

To do that, we need your help!

We’re building a new website where you can share climate change solutions, ideas and challenges. To make it as engaging as possible and help people to understand the issues, we want to fill it with videos, photos and case studies about the projects that are already taking action and the impacts we’re experiencing here and now.

What we need from you: a short film, or take a photo and write down your thoughts

Maybe you have a personal story about how climate change and air quality is affecting you or you’re involved in a project which is helping us to become more sustainable. Whatever it is, we’re looking for quick and simple videos or photos which we can share on the site.

Here are some questions which you might want to think about in your response:

• What does climate change mean to you? How will climate change impact you and your community?
• Why is climate action relevant now? What have we learned from this crisis that will make us better prepared in future?
• What are you doing about it (if anything)? Can others get involved or support
• What should government and organisations be doing to respond to climate change?

Deadline for submissions is early July.

What happens next?

We will have a citizens’ assembly on climate change to bring the council, residents and organisations together. At the present time it can’t happen because of the coronavirus. But we want to use this time to continue building awareness and action to tackle climate change. The responses from the website will contribute to the citizens’ assembly and all of this information will be used to create a borough-wide climate action plan. This action plan will say what we need to do together as a borough to reduce and adapt to the effects of climate change.

You can help by encouraging your community to get involved and start sharing ideas so that everyone’s voices are included.

Want to know more about climate change?

Climate change is happening and is due to human activity. For our residents this means more heat waves, droughts and an increased risk of flooding. Air pollution contributes towards climate change as well as posing its own risks to health. It is often the most vulnerable residents who are most at risk to the effects of climate change such as older people, disabled people, young children, people with poor mental or physical health and those on low incomes.

The solutions to climate change already exist and many of them have other benefits which address inequalities at the same time. Solutions such as solar panels and retro-fitting homes to make them better insulated against heat and cold can also help people by reducing energy bills and creating new, local jobs.

You can find out more about what what we are doing on our Carbon Neutral Council 2030 page. It is impossible for the council to tackle climate change alone. Many other organisations and individuals will need be involved. Please join the conversation and encourage your community to take part!

If you need help to complete a short film or written piece for the website or to find out more please get in touch with the Climate Change Response team by emailing Kate Hogarth khogarth@lambeth.gov.uk or Sarah Richards srichards@lambeth.gov.uk.