Environmental action at the Oxford Hub
This year we’ve seen concern for climate change rise to the top of the public consciousness — we’ve seen catastrophic forest fires, school strikes that have inspired the international community, and reports indicating that we have only a decade to define the future of our planet. It’s no surprise that almost two thirds of people in the UK say that their worries about the climate will impact the way they vote in the upcoming general election.
Climate change is not purely an “environmental” issue, but a social issue too. It is the world’s poorest communities that will be hit hardest by the impact of rising global temperatures, with women being disproportionately affected. In the last year, we’ve been scaling our environmental action strategy at Oxford Hub to match the social action programmes we deliver to tackle disadvantage and build stronger communities in Oxford City.
Environmental projects at Oxford Hub
We have more opportunities than ever before for local people in Oxford to take action on issues facing our planet — and over 200 people so far have seized the opportunity to join in and take a stand. With the introduction of the UK’s first climate assembly by Oxford City Council, a new climate fund set up by the Lord Mayor of Oxford, and the University’s new target to halve carbon emissions by 2030, Oxford is taking a lead nationally to find solutions to protect and restore our planet.
In 2018–19 we launched the expansion of environmental action projects at Oxford Hub with the support of the Department of Environmental Sustainability at the University of Oxford. By July 2019 we had a community of over 200 students and local people working to make Oxford a greener city through our eleven community projects.
From projects working on food sustainability and plastic waste, to outdoor education and community gardens, we’ve got a whole range of projects carrying on into 2019–20 for people to get stuck into. We’ll also be collaborating with Oxford City Council on the delivery of Oxford Green Week 2020. Find out more and get involved over on our website!
Think there’s something missing from our project line-up?
If there’s an environmental issue you’d like to tackle, why not go ahead and set up a project to tackle it yourself? This year, we’ve launched Green Labs: a new programme that supports teams of people to set up their own environmental interventions in Oxford. Our four teams are currently working on piloting projects tackling fast fashion, carbon offsetting, information-sharing, and political engagement with climate issues. Follow us on Facebook for updates about how these projects develop!
If you’d like to learn how to set up and deliver your own environmental project with Green Labs, find out more here.
