David Attenborough’s Top Tip – If you only do one thing for the planet, don’t waste anything.
About us
We have formed a climate oriented group called Backwell Climate Action. Our aim is to create greater awareness within Backwell of how the community can take action to reduce our carbon footprint (CF). Our key objectives are focussed on actions individuals can think about through events, networks, local clubs. We are also working with local businesses and the local authority to implement ideas that will make a difference for future generations. Join in with conversations on Facebook.
Climate Action Groups
Sustainable Backwell has for a number of years promoted and encouraged changes in behaviour of Backwell residents to reduce their environmental impact and find ways to support and enjoy our beautiful village. They organise various events throughout the year including:
- The Fairtrade and Repair Cafe – this is a community activity which takes place every second Saturday In the Parish Hall and offers repair on the following items: bicycles, toys, small appliances, clocks, chairs, garden tools, etc., plus all sorts of sewing repairs as well as sharpening knives, scissors, secaturs, shears…
- Sustainable Backwell have a site on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SustainableBackwell/
Backwell Borrowers (recently expanded to BS48) is a 200 strong virtual group of villagers who are all prepared to loan tools and items which may only be required for one off, or occasional use. The group is hosted on Facebook and can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/194466595827388
Nailsea Shedders are a community group which is interested in repairing and recycling items which are broken and are regular attendees at the Backwell Repair Cafe. They have a Facebook page which can be found at: https://www.nailseashedders.org
Composting is an excellent way to reduce waste and from time to time, there are community compost collection points set up to benefit the community.
The Home Energy Taskforce is a small team of volunteers trained to undertake a home energy survey for you and offer advice. Their focus is on low income households and their service is free. It will resume in winter 2025 and you can apply via their website.
Carbon footprint
Three quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions come from people so to really cut carbon everyone needs to be involved. The challenge is that many people aren’t sure what to do, don’t know the impact of different changes and don’t want to do it alone. Giki Zero helps with all three. Its free to sign up at: https://giki.earth/about/
Events
Backwell’s Second Walking Carnival took place on 29 Jun 25 with the aim of encouraging entries which could be pushed/carried and only be created from existing or repurposed/recycled items. The turnout was tremendous, no doubt helped by the fine weather and 500+ folk from the village turned out to enjoy the event. The route followed local streets from the Spar to the Playing Fields accompanied by some members of The Ambling Band. We were also splendidly entertained by various local groups during the afternoon and a myriad of community organisations took part with fun activities for children.
Future dates for your diary:
News
What can I do?
The climate emergency is often overwhelming and something which is so unpalatable that it’s very easy for us to consider it as someone else’s problem. Here is a list of 10 things for you to consider. Try doing just one thing as it will matter. You can find any number of similar lists online with a quick Ecosia search. This campaign, Take The Jump, has launched recently and we think it’s really accessible and pragmatic: https://takethejump.org.
- Who do you bank with? All the major international banks are major funders of the Fossil Fuel industries. Use this website www.switchit.money to check your bank’s rating and find alternatives. It’s your money: don’t let it be used in ways that you don’t endorse.
- How do you heat your home? Switchit does energy providers too so you can find a green tariff. And this may not be appropriate for everyone but the Govt currently offers gives grants of up to £5,000 to reduce the costs of installing low carbon heating systems. I’ve had my Air Source Heat Pump for over a year now and I LOVE it. I used Igloo and they were excellent: https://works.igloo.energy.
- What do you eat? 60% of the mammals on earth are livestock. Our meat and dairy-eating habits are driving deforestation, both to graze animals and to grow their food, and releasing vast quantities of methane into the air. The good news is that methane hangs around in the atmosphere for much less time than carbon, so reducing our meat and dairy consumption and switching to a plant-based diet is one of the most directly impactful things we can do for the planet. https://www.livekindly.co/60-of-all-mammals-on-earth-are-livestock-says-new-study/ If and when you do eat meat, don’t buy it from the supermarkets or food chains which are supplied by animals fed on soya from the Amazon basin. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Burger King, McDonald’s and KFC all sell meat (incl. chicken) fed on the soya that is fuelling deforestation. Buy grass-fed and free-range from small, local farmers and don’t be afraid to ask questions about what you’re buying and how it was fed. If you can’t give up meat entirely, could you buy less and buy better? https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/meat-soya-fire-disease-amazon-rainforest-breaking-down/
- What do you wear? The fashion industry produces nearly 100 billion items of clothing a year but there is so much already in circulation – in charity shops and our own wardrobes. Commit to a period of buying second-hand, or swap, repair, upcycle. https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/old-environmental-impacts
- How do you travel? Globally, transport is responsible for a quarter of all carbon emissions. While cars have become more efficient over recent years, they’ve also become bigger and heavier. And switching to EVs is not the straightforward answer. So if you travel primarily by car, could you reduce this? Could you commit to a period of not flying? https://flightfree.co.uk. If you exclusively use public transport or cycle then you’re my hero!
- Is there a Zero Plastic refill shop near you? If so, use it enthusiastically! Yes, it takes a bit longer, and yes it probably puts a few pence onto some items (not all!). But there’s nothing like the warm glow of buying waste-free and you’ll be amazed at how it reduces your household rubbish. Here’s your local one: https://www.simplygreenzerowaste.co.uk
- Write to your MP. Tell them you’re concerned about climate change and don’t feel that the Government is doing enough. Ask them if they support the Climate & Ecological Emergency bill (https://www.ceebill.uk) is a Private Members Bill (which is how the Climate Change Act of 2008 began) that has been written by activists, lawyers and scientists: it is a framework for this country to take action NOW and to secure a just and fair transition to an economy which is sustainable for the future. This Greenpeace link makes it easy and less than a 2 minute job – https://act.gp/40vvgcL ). If they don’t or won’t support it, ask them to tell you why. Our MPs represent us: we are entitled to tell them what we want to see them doing. Ask if they attended Sir Patrick Vallance’s Climate Crisis briefing, offered to all MPs after Angus Rose spent 37 days on hunger strike over this – entirely reasonable – demand.
- How much do you consume? Not just food and energy and petrol, but how much stuff do you buy? The average carbon footprint in this country is 12.7 tonnes per year (equivalent to the weight of 10,500 bottles of wine); we need to reduce this to 2 tonnes. A lot of that is due to the household stuff we buy and dispose of too quickly, especially phones, computers and other electrical items. Buy second-hand, or repairable. https://www.fairphone.com/en/. You can calculate your personal carbon footprint and pick up suggestions on the most impactful changes for you personally. Here is a really quick, easy to use carbon footprint calculator: https://zero.giki.earth
- Support System Change. All of this individual action is wonderful, but the change we need is so rapid that it can only come from changing our system. Extinction Rebellion’s Third Demand is to involve ordinary people in our democracy by holding Citizen’s Assemblies: https://citizensassembly.co.uk. Our oppositional democracy cannot think long-term and CA’s have shown that ordinary people are willing to be much more radical, and go further and faster, than Governments will. https://extinctionrebellion.uk.
- And finally, here is David Attenborough’s top tip. If you only do one thing for the planet: don’t waste. Don’t waste anything. Don’t waste food, fuel, clothes, household items or water. And let’s not waste time.
Be the change – by Chloe Naldrett (with thanks)
Shop Local
Supporting your local shops will make a difference and the climate action team intend to work with local businesses to make it visible how they are actively contributing to reducing their carbon footprint.
Contact Us
If you would like to be involved and contribute ideas to how our local community can make a difference, please contact:
backwellclimateaction@gmail.com