Archive for the ‘opportunities’ Category
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Why do I care about climate change?
It seems mad to think that although studying geography at GCSE and A-Level, it was only when studying physical geography at university over the past 3 years that I was actually taught about climate change and its seriousness! It then dawns on me that climate change has only been entirely confirmed as a cause of human activity for 2 years, since the IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) released their 2007 report: despite obvious long term changes in climate since 1970! I was therefore fortunate to have been studying geography and stumbled onto a course about climate change and have since found myself fascinated.
Sitting in a lecture theater with a lecturer telling us that by 2100 the Sahara desert is likely to have reached Paris; the entire remaining population could be living on UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand “lifeboat” countries and that mean global temperatures could potentially increase by as much as 11ºC (being just some of the many shocking facts we had to get our heads round), I found myself increasingly concerned by the future climate we have to face. However, this wasn’t just me, throughout the 3 years at University I saw a class of students grow from initially leaving lectures talking about the next club they are going to, to eventually a group of worried faces looking absolutely terrified by the hard facts we had been hit with. I started to think “well if this is all true, why isn’t more being done to stop it?”, “why isn’t this something everyone is forced to learn about because it’s REAL and is happening NOW!” Now obviously the facts mentioned are alarmist and worst case scenarios, but they are possible, and the problem that faces us is how we can get people to acknowledge the seriousness of climate change without putting them off by stating the shocking possibilities of climate change. It was these thoughts that led me into researching volunteering opportunities, internships and careers linked with climate change.
I found myself on the Global Action Plan website and registered my interest with “Climate Squad” with the mindset that any sort of activity I do along the lines of climate change will help me get a related job! My first meeting with the Climate Squad leaders was at the launch of the UK Governments Copenhagen strategy at London Zoo, and have since been working as a volunteer intern!
If any of this sounds familiar and you want to open doors to new opportunities, learn more about climate change and get more people active about it, or even to just put something extra valuable on your CV, register your interest with Climate Squad now!
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Hopenhagen and Seal the Deal
Hopefully you’ve already seen our blogs on COP15, the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December, and linked to that is the amazing new website, Hopenhagen.
Hopenhagen gives you the chance to tell the world what it is that gives you hope. Have a look and add your message at http://www.hopenhagen.org/#
We’ve also got some more info for you on the ‘Seal the Deal’ at Copenhagen campaign, where you are able to sign the global petition urging world leaders to;
- Seal the Deal on an effective, equitable and definitive climate agreement at COP15
- Avert the climate change threat by setting binding targets to cut greenhouse gases by 2020
- Create a framework that will protect lives and livelihoods in vulnerable countries by bolstering their climate resilience
- Support the adaptation efforts of developing countries
- Seize this defining opportunity to protect People and the Planet
- Power green growth by launching the green, low carbon economy of tomorrow.
So sign the petition and show world leaders that you’re behind their efforts to improve the lives of millions of people all around the world.
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Climate Squad Volunteer Recruitment OPENS!
The Climate Squad social networking site will be launched at the start of August 2009, listing further details of all volunteering opportunities available, from 6 month projects (3 days/month) working with schools, householders and local businesses, to short-term conservation opportunities (4 days) and one-off actions (up to 1 day), including flash-mobs, interactive display events and production of profile-raising artworks for Copenhagen. Prospective volunteers will be able to support each other via the online community, building profiles, registering their volunteering interests, taking part in discussion forums and uploading videos and podcasts to increase levels of participation, nationally. In the meantime, a couple of volunteer opportunities are open to applicants now:
Steering Group Members – RECRUITING NOW!
A small core group of around 20 volunteers is needed to comment on all aspects of Climate Squad delivery, from the design of volunteering opportunities and recruitment activities to the layout of the social networking website and online training materials. Steering group members will meet monthly after which representatives of the group will report to staff from Global Action Plan and the funders (v and Bank of America) at quarterly meetings to communicate their views and suggestions.
Sustainable Community Leaders - RECRUITING NOW!
300 volunteers will undertake an accredited, residential Sustainable Community Leadership course – the first of which will run in September 2009, for 100 participants. The course is aimed at committed greens, highly motivated young people, new graduates and recently unemployed young people who are not moving into employment or further training. The course will prepare the Community Leaders for co-ordination of a 6-month carbon reduction project (commitment of up to 3 days/month) and will give them an increased understanding of environmental issues and how they relate to the economic and political climate. It will also equip the Community Leaders with a wide range of skills to take into future employment and enable them to develop these skills by leading on subsequent sustainability initiatives in their communities.
Each community leader will co-ordinate a local project of their choice, working with a school/college, householders, local business or outdoor environmental organisation, recruiting additional volunteers and measuring carbon savings. Ongoing delivery, learning and skills development will be supported by Global Action Plan’s Training and Development Manager. Subsequently, community leaders will be encouraged to hold celebration events in their communities and each will receive their accredited training certificate, a report outlining their learning and skills development and a United Nations Environment Programme certificate to acknowledge their efforts.
If you would like to volunteer on the Climate Squad Steering Group or as a Sustainable Community Leader please submit a one-page, A4 summary to the Training & Development Manager at climate.squad@globalactionplan.org.uk outlining:
- Why you would like to become a Sustainable Community Leader or Steering Group member. Include details of any skills or experience you have that you feel would benefit the Climate Squad project.
- Your interest in environmental issues
Please, also include the name of a referee and remember to give your full name, age, address and contact details.
You can also register an interest in general Climate Squad volunteer opportunities on the Climate Squad website homepage www.climatesquad.org.uk
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The DIY approach to cutting carbon
Climate change is real, it’s happening now, and the facts are pretty depressing. Without action, scientists predict nothing short of a global disaster - not hundreds of years in the future, but in our lifetimes.
But it’s not a done deal. The fact is that nearly half of all carbon emissions in the UK come from the energy we use every day - at home, at work and in transport. So rather than waiting for politicians to sort it out, we figured it’s time to take back the power and start cutting carbon ourselves. So, this is Climate Squad - the DIY approach to cutting carbon in our communities.
We’re aiming to get 3000 volunteers involved in persuading everyone from school kids, local councils and businesses to our friends, families and neighbours to take basic steps to cut the amount of carbon they use. To do this, we’ll train 300 leaders, aged 16-25, to run their own environmental projects in their communities.
The plan is, these 300 leaders will then be skilled up to embark on fabulous new careers doing something they care about. Meanwhile, politicians will see that England is prepared to change its carbon ways - so they’ll be pressured to make the international deals we need to get global warming under control. And our retirements will involve holidays and golf and bingo which, while dull, is much preferable to floods, droughts and general global catastrophe.
Climate Squad is still evolving. Help to shape the project by dropping your ideas in the suggestion box.
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