Want to reduce your carbon footprint in 2010, with a group of lovely people, AND reduce your overdraft by saving some money on energy bills?  The Carbon Literacy Forum are co-ordinating free Carbon Conversations courses across several London boroughs, starting in February 2010…

If you are a tad tired of always being against things and would like to start doing something more positive and creative when it comes to environmental issues, but don’t want to go it alone, then this course may well be for you.

Image courtesy of transitiontowns.org

The Carbon Literacy Forum is co-ordinating a 6-session course starting in January, which will help participants reduce their carbon footprint.  Facilitators from various Transition Towns, including Hackney, Stoke Newington, Highbury, Waltham Forest, Primrose Hill and other environmental groups will be involved.  The course will be run in groups of 8-10 people with fortnightly meetings consisting of a mixture of information, group discussion, and learning activities. The aim is to “understand the issues around climate change and carbon reduction, and learn practical ways to reduce carbon and save energy and money”.  So, not a bad idea for the post-Christmas overdraft and loooong wait until next payday either then!!  Plus, DIY-ing with other people is much more fun than reading books and apocalypse-predicting articles, and figuring out how you’ll ever do anything by yourself. 

There are nine courses planned altogether – two in Highbury, two in Hackney, one in Waltham Forest, one in Angel, Islington, one in Westminster, one in Lambeth and one other to be confirmed. 

The purpose is for participants to learn how to monitor key areas of their carbon footprint, including home energy, travel and transport, food and water, and other consumption and waste, after taking part in a questionnaire at the beginning of the course to calculate their current carbon footprint.  You’ll also be encouraged to keep a brief, simple diary of the steps you take to reduce your carbon footprint.  By the end of the course you will have ideally created your own personal plan for reducing your carbon footprint, tailored to your own lifestyle.

The facilitators will also organize special workshops and talks, and you’ll get to borrow books and energy-monitoring equipment. An online network will also be set up for people who have been on the courses to share information, tips and discuss issues with other, and facilitators will also signpost members to public workshops, talks, local community groups, and relevant Council services.  All the organizers ask you to bring is enthusiasm and a willingness to ask questions and share your learning with the rest of the group! 

Importantly, once you have completed one of the 6-meeting courses, you will be able to start facilitating meetings yourself.  You will need to attend a half-day’s ‘facilitation workshop’, after which you can pair up with another facilitator and start organizing your own group.  It would be a super way to spread the initiative to more areas and regions. You could even tailor them to your particular area or interest, such as how to reduce carbon footprint in the creative industries (might also be a great way to network with like-minded people!).  The Carbon Literacy Forum will provide help and support to people looking to start their own meetings.

[Image courtesy of transitiontowns.org]

Participation in the London Carbon Conversations courses is free, apart from the £15 Carbon Conversations handbook you’ll need to get at the beginning to follow the course.  The book is very detailed and should come in handy long after you’ve finished the course, especially if you start your own meetings.

If you contact London Carbon Conversations, they will be able to advise which group is nearest to you.  If you can’t make the planned dates and times, you can mention which dates are most suitable for you. They will put you in touch with a group that hopefully meets at a more convenient time. 

If you live or work in Hackney, the local course will be held near Broadway Market, E8 on fortnightly Mondays, 7-9pm, starting from 8th February.

Alison Thorpe and Abbie Maxwell are facilitating The Hackney course, so to join the group or express an interest, email Alison[AT]phonecoop.coop for a Joining Form.  For more info on the London-wide initiative contact Tom Hitchman of the Carbon Literacy Forum at Tom Hitchman[AT]carbonliteracyforum.org.
[Hackney Transition Town Seedy Sunday flyer, above, by Holly Gregson]

I will be attending the sessions in Hackney, so even if you can’t make it for the course, I will try my best to keep you posted via the Earth section at Amelia’s Magazine!

Written by Zofia Walczak on Wednesday January 13th, 2010 5:59 pm

Tags:

carbon conversations, Carbon footprint, climate, Climate Change, earth, Hackney Transition Town, Holly Gregson, london, Transition network, transition towns

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