Celia Kerslake

WEST OXFORDSHIRE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN BRIEFING AND WORKSHOP

What is the most important issue of our time? 

Thinking beyond Covid and Brexit, it must be Climate Change. 

In May of this year 443 out of 446 respondents to the West Oxfordshire District Council consultation on the topic said Climate Change was a priority that needed addressing.[1]

At the end of October West Oxfordshire District Council published its Carbon Action Plan [2] in answer to the Climate Change Emergency that was declared by the council in June 2019. Whereas we welcome any step to reduce the rate of climate change and any preparation for addressing the impact of its inevitable consequences, this plan falls short of what the District needs.

The plan primarily addresses what the council, as an organisation, will do to reduce its own carbon footprint. By now, after more than 16 months, the Council should have a much clearer idea of what they should be doing to assist the whole district to reduce its contribution to climate change emissions. 

It may be that the Climate Change Strategy, that the Council plans to have ready by the end of the year, will be more comprehensive. However, we need to make ourselves ready to challenge any shortcomings in the plans, so that when it is considered by the Council in the new year we can get firm commitments that will make a real difference.

To help us prepare, we have invited Julian Dean, the National Green Party’s Climate Officer, to give us a briefing and lead a workshop on Thursday 26^th November at 7.30 pm.  In that meeting we will address:

• What exactly should a local Climate Action Plan look like?
• How does West Oxfordshire District Council’s newly-published action-plan match up?
• what we should celebrate?
• what more should we be pushing for?

If you want to know the answers to any of those questions or if you have questions of your own, especially if you want to work with us to address climate change issues locally why not join us in this workshop. We really need your input.

Register today and we will send you access details nearer the date..

[1] https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/environment/climate-action/climate-action-and-what-we-are-doing/

[2] https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/media/tslaufqh/carbon-action-plan.pdf

On the first Tuesday in November, as well as our normal business meeting, we are holding an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) at 8 pm (online) to approve a constitution for the West Oxfordshire branch of the Green Party. 

We are also proposing to change our acronym, because of the possibility (however unintended) of the first three letters of the straightforward abbreviation of "West Oxfordshire Green Party" causing offence. 

The regular monthly business meeting will follow immediately after the EGM, probably starting at about 8.30 pm.

All members are very welcome to join our monthly meetings to help us plan our election campaigns, communications and other activities. All skills and experience of whatever kind can contribute to our efforts to make West Oxfordshire greener and better for everyone who lives there.

Everything has to start in the towns and villages where we live. The more we spread the Green message around locally, the more Green councillors we have breathing health into our local environments and inspiring the communities we are part of, the more chance we have of increasing our representation in parliament one day...

So why not join the West Oxon Green Party meeting online on Tuesday, 6 October, 8-10 pm?

Let us know how you can best help on election day, 7 May 2020. Tasks include:

1. Reminding people to vote:
   • Knocking on the doors of people who said they will vote Green (“knocking up”).
   • Telephoning people who said they would vote green.
2. Helping in a committee room.
3. Giving lifts to voters with mobility difficulties who are otherwise unable to travel their polling station
4. Taking voter numbers at polling stations (“telling”)—many voters don’t make up their minds until they are in the polling booth. A Green rosette and a welcoming face can help persuade them. Key times include 7am-9.30am, and 5pm-8pm.
5. Tallying the votes at the count, so we know where in the county there are more Green voters.

Please tick the ways you can help below, and where you can help.

We know that not everyone can spend precious time fighting for the common good. That is why hundreds of people across Oxfordshire donate monthly to the Oxfordshire Green Party.

Every small donation helps immediately.

Your donation today helps us fight against what the experts warn us against - rampant climate change, crippling austerity, and eroding local democracy. Join other locals in supporting the Oxfordshire Green Party through a regular donation, and help us fight for the common good.

We are solely reliant on small donations; your donations have helped us triple our local councillors in the 2019 Local Elections, and gave us over 2 million votes at the 2019 European Elections - all without a local office or even local full-time paid staff members!

The sacrifice you can give of:

• a packet of crisps (£1) a month could pay for 20 letters to help Oxfordshire's residents fight for their democratic rights, 
• a coffee (£2.50) a month could help pay for a local resident campaign against climate change,
• a lunch order (£10) a month could pay for people to hear from us directly,
• a round of drinks (£25) a month could pay for a room to meet local residents and help them with their needs, 
• a family of four's cinema ticket to one show (£50) a month could help pay for a full time staff member,
• a dinner out (£100) a month could pay for an office space... for a week!

So go on... give the party a treat!

You can also donate by standing order.