Cambridgeshire Climate Emergency
Providing an effective emergency response to the Climate Crisis
Cambridgeshire Climate Emergency is a new organisation set up to provide an effective community response to the climate emergency in Cambridgeshire. With many areas of Cambridgeshire threatened by possible sea-level rises, it's vital we come together as a community to take urgent action to tackle climate change.
We are an independent, non-partisan group - not affiliated to any existing group or institution - who are keen to work with everyone across the community to achieve zero carbon as soon as possible. We believe that through effective coordination and empowered communities, we can achieve a step-change in how quickly we tackle the climate emergency.
Cambridgeshire Climate Emergency (CCE) has three strategic goals:
Network of Control Centres
We will build a network of "Climate Emergency Control Centres" across Cambridgeshire - similar to the CDC's control centre (above) - to monitor CO2 and climate-related data, set milestones and drive urgent action across the entire region. Each control centre will display public "Situation Maps " that people can browse on their own computers or mobile phones (see below).
People Power Grid
Using the techniques of community organising, we will train Climate Leaders across Cambridge to organise their communities to take effective, practical action to reduce CO2 emissions. Possible community projects will include developing locally grown energy schemes, developing car-sharing schemes, and retrofitting properties to be more energy efficient.
Inclusive and Collaborative
Using People's Assemblies and Citizens' Assemblies - similar to the London Citizens UK Assembly (above) - every section of the community will be included in decision-making regarding how Cambridgeshire achieves zero carbon.
About Cambridgeshire Climate Emergency
Cambridgeshire Climate Emergency (CCE) has been created by Stefan Haselwimmer, an award-winning social entrepreneur. It was inspired by Stefan's own experience launching the Cambridge Refugee Resettlement Campaign in 2015, which showed that when people's skills and resources are pooled in a coordinated way, considerable progress can be made to tackle difficult social issues.
Communications are being handled by Amelia Morrey. Amelia has many years experience in both TV drama and copywriting for large corporate clients. With her in-depth knowledge of story and narrative, she is well-placed to communicate key messages to a wide audience.
Progress to date
CCE has convened two meetings with Cambridge City Council where a number of climate groups including Cambridgeshire schools eco-councils and XR were in attendance. CCE has also met with key council members from Cambridgeshire County Council and South Cambridgeshire, and also met Lucy Frazer MP and Heidi Allen MP. CCE's goal is to have all councils, schools and universities in Cambridgeshire as key stakeholders within a network of Climate Emergency Control Centres.
We have also created a mockup "Climate Emergency Control Centre" (see below):
What we're looking for
We're looking for donations totalling 20K in order to fund a six-month pilot of the CCE "Climate Emergency Control Centre Network". This will cover the cost of one full-time member of staff to train volunteers, develop the network and create appropriate technologies.
We are confident that by the end of the six-month period, we will have conclusively demonstrated the benefits of the CCE network and will receive follow-on funding from councils and corporate sponsors.
We need your help!
We've spent the last eight months working for free, developing the core idea, and meeting councils and community groups to refine the vision. The good news is everyone's very excited by the project!
We've now reached a crucial period in the project's development where we need external funding to finally get the idea off the ground and create the UK's first "Climate Emergency Control Centre".
So please help by contributing whatever you can.
We believe most people in Cambridgeshire are worried about the climate emergency and want to do something about it - but they're unsure quite what to do. CCE offers a unique way of channelling people's skills and passion so we don't just achieve zero carbon at some point in the future but AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Please help us make a difference in Cambridgeshire
With large parts of north Cambridgeshire - not to mention Cambridge University and "silicon fen" - all at risk of flooding due to climate change, the world is looking to Cambridgeshire to lead the way in how we respond to the climate emergency.
Thank you,
Stefan
