RVCAN SUMMIT

Citizens Summit

for

Climate and Nature

FIRST CITIZENS SUMMIT FOR CLIMATE AND NATURE MAKES PLEDGES FOR REAL CHANGE

The Ribble Valley Citizens Summit for Climate and Nature took place on Saturday 1st July 2023. The summit was a huge success, a fully booked event bursting with positivity, bringing over 100 people together from across the Ribble Valley.

Participants in the final session of the recent Ribble Valley Citizens Summit for Climate and Nature had the opportunity to make personal pledges for changes they would make as a result of the day and also to choose and share three issues (out of a potential of nine) which they considered the priorities for consideration by the Ribble Valley Borough Council Climate Change Working Group, With over 300 votes collected the issues to emerge as top priorities for those at the summit were ‘Regenerative farming and food production’; ‘Getting around the Ribble Valley with less CO2’; and ‘Improving the landscape and wildlife in the Ribble Valley’ with ‘Community Energy in the Ribble Valley’ coming a close fourth. Local councillors present at the summit and representing all RVBC parties then took to the platform and gave brief individual responses to the priority issues identified.

Organised by Ribble Valley Climate Action Network (RVCAN) in partnership with Longridge and Readstone Environment Groups (LEG and REG) the summit was a packed day with ‘Panels of Positivity’ showcasing award-winning local innovators and community-led schemes from the worlds of farming, conservation, green regeneration, renewable energy and pollinator-friendly gardening.

‘Who knew there were so many good ideas taking shape here in Ribble Valley? I’ve been inspired by today’ was one comment and ‘We need a food map of the Ribble Valley showing where we can buy great food directly from the producers’ after the morning Food, Farming and Nature panel.

The afternoon ‘Homes, Health and Energy’ panel triggered these responses: ‘There are so many great ways for us to produce and share our own energy, to cut our costs and reduce our dependence on gas and oil’ and ‘Villages all over the Ribble Valley could be more carbon friendly and better off’.

Running in parallel with both panels were World Café sessions under the same headings where participants joined in lively informal café table discussions of two strategic questions. Discussions were recorded on the tablecloths and participants were encouraged to change tables between questions to share and benefit from a wider range of perspectives and experiences.

Rob Hopkins, internationally renowned environmentalist and champion of the collective imagination, opened the summit with an inspirational presentation on the possibilities and potential for community-led change and later led a joint visioning journey into 2030.

The personal pledges for change were made on recyclable ‘luggage labels’ and included: ‘To share the optimism gained today with family and friends to encourage a shared journey of optimism’ and ‘To connect more with people from different backgrounds to share ideas, raise awareness and get excited for our future’ plus ‘living a slower, more conscious lifestyle focused on the environment’. The 100+ positive pledges included more growing of flowers, fruit, vegetables and trees plus carbon friendly changes to travel and greening the home environment in terms of energy and insulation.

The outcomes from the summit including the tablecloth discussion notes, priority votes and pledges will be collated and a report made available. As the event was fully booked no admissions were possible on the door but enquiries about future plans and meetings can be made by email to ribblevalleycan@gmail.com