News
Keep up to date with the latest news
21 March 2022
Stop Climate Chaos: Local Government Elections 2022
Ahead of the Scottish local government elections on 5th May, hear from Stop Climate Chaos Scotland on why decisions taken by local governments play a big part in tackling climate change, protecting and enhancing nature, and ensuring a fair transition to a low carbon future.
They have also gathered information on climate related events happening in the run up the elections and manifestoes produced by Scottish charities outlining the actions parties and candidates need to be committing to tackle the climate and nature emergencies.
20 March 2022
Job Opportunity: Edinburgh Community Climate Action Network Coordinator
SCCAN – Scottish Communities Climate Action Network is hiring an Edinburgh Community Climate Action Network Coordinator.
The Scottish Government has funded SCCAN to invest in 10 regional community climate action networks. This will support the work of existing community climate action networks and nurture new regional networks, which can support the emergence of the regional community climate action hubs.
The appointed person will work closely with Charlie Wright who has joined EVOC and Our Future Edinburgh working to help deliver the community led components of Edinburgh’s 2030 Climate Strategy.
The role will include working with local community groups to support civil society / third sector / community led groups – offering structures and processes for peer support and sharing of experience and learning between groups and other networks.
Edinburgh Community Climate Action Network Coordinator.
Part Time (28 hours per week) • Fixed Term Contract until March 2023
£28,000 pa pro rata
Closing date: Friday, 8th April 2022 by 9am
15 March 2022
12 April 2022: Living Streets Edinburgh election hustings (online)
Living Streets Edinburgh election hustings will give the public the chance to hear candidates from the main political parties speak about their party’s plans to make Edinburgh better for ‘everyday walking and wheeling’. Voting in the council elections takes place on May 5th, 2022.
We will briefly outline our Manifesto for Walking – which you can see here – before hearing from candidates from all the main political parties about their plans for walking in Edinburgh. This will be followed by questions from members of the public.
We have invited the transport spokespeople from all the major parties. As we are politically impartial, we will ensure that everyone has an equal chance to contribute. Representatives confirmed so far are:
Scottish Green Party – Kayleigh O’Neill
Scottish Liberal Democratic Party – Cllr Kevin Lang
Labour – Mhairi Munro-Brian
We are delighted that the event will be chaired by leading Scottish transport journalist Alastair Dalton.
We hope you can join us from 5.00 to 6.30 pm on Tuesday 12 April. To register, just follow the link below:
28 February 2022
Job Opportunity: Project Coordinator | Cargo Bike Movement
Cargo Bike Movement are looking for a proactive individual who is passionate about promoting the use of cargo bikes in and around Edinburgh. This role will include remote work as well as time in the Cargo Bike Movement Hub in Tollcross.
Project Coordinator | Cargo Bike Movement Edinburgh
£25,000 pa pro rata
Paid • Part Time • Fixed Term Contract
Download the role description here
Closing date: Thursday 24th March 2022
Find out more here
22 February 2022
7 & 8 March: Women’s Day Climate Vigil and Rally
Women’s Climate Strike is organizing an event for the International Women’s Day. There will be a 24 hour Vigil starting from 7th March at 7.00 pm and ending on 8th march 7.00 pm. There will also be rally, speeches, poems, and theatrical activities.
The event will be held in Holyrood, in front of the Parliament.
Join us!
18 February 2022
Are you a resident of Edinburgh keen to learn what’s emerging in 2022? Come and hear Who’s doing What & When and how you can get involved!
The Scottish Government is supporting SCCAN to invest in ten regional community climate action networks which will then be able to bid to host one of the Scottish Government funded Regional Community Climate Action Hubs. Louisa Harvey will outline the Government’s plans.
Late in 2021 the City of Edinburgh Council awarded a grant to a partnership of Our Future Edinburgh (OFE) and Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (EVOC) to establish a Community Climate Action Forum under their 2030 Climate Strategy.
We hope that Bridie Ashrowan, EVOC CEO, and Charlie Wright, Forum Coordinator – who engages with citizens and groups enabling all to contribute to climate action in the city will share their initial plans.
Edinburgh COP26 Coalition has evolved into Edinburgh Climate Coalition and they will share their ideas along with representatives of the ethnic minority and other groups who ran Edinburgh Climate Festival last year.
In person at Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL plus we hope some or all of it blended so those prevented can attend online. Doors open at 6.00pm for refreshments and viewing the stalls.
31 January 2022
Merchiston Community Council (MCC) becomes the first community council in Edinburgh to declare a climate and ecological emergency. The declaration was agreed unanimously on Tuesday 16th November at MCC’s last public meeting of the year.
Motion in full:
Merchiston Community Council:
• in recognition of ever-increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere and the ever-greater number of species under threat of extinction around the world;
• following a similar declaration by the City of Edinburgh Council in February 2019, and;
• in anticipation of the imminent publication of the Edinburgh Climate Strategy 2030
declares a climate and ecological emergency.
In passing this declaration MCC commits to act accordingly in all areas of its business but especially in its responses to City of Edinburgh Council and government consultations in licensing, planning and transport. Moving forward MCC will give positive weight to schemes which promote the transition to a low-carbon economy and which facilitate low-carbon lifestyles.
MCC Transport co-lead, Declan Murray says:
“Confronting the ever-escalating climate & ecological crises will require ever-more urgent action at all levels of society, including at the level of communities. It is fantastic that MCC has passed this declaration and we hope it will be the first of many declarations across the city as more community councils follow suit.”
MCC would like to encourage other community councils within the city to take a similar step and hopes to be an active contributor to related initiatives around the city such as the Community Climate Forum currently being developed by Our Future Edinburgh. MCC are also inviting suggestions from residents in Bruntsfield, Greenhill, Merchiston, Polwarth and Shandon as to how we can face the emergency together in the local council area.
What is a climate and ecological emergency declaration?
The first such declaration was made by Darebin Council in Melbourne, Australia in 2016 and others have since been made all over the world from local to national level. The idea of a declaration is to communicate a sense of urgency and provide a focus for people and politicians to take action to mitigate the worst effects of climate & ecological breakdown.
Merchiston Community Council
MCC is one of the original community councils of Edinburgh and has been speaking up for the people of Merchiston since the early 1980s. MCC consists of up to 16 individual members – each elected for a period of three years – and around eight nominated members of groups such as neighbourhood associations and traders’ organisations.
MCC holds regular public meetings, attended by city councillors, which allow residents to be kept informed of current issues and to take part in discussions on topics such as crime, health, licensing, planning and transport. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month via Zoom (except for April, July, August and December when there are no meetings).
17 January 2022
UPDATE : A New Space for Communities to Shape Edinburgh’s Path to Net Zero
We at Our Future Edinburgh are delighted to be working in partnership with EVOC to develop a space for communities and residents to actively engage in climate discussions and offer residents practical support to take climate action.
Sponsored by the City of Edinburgh Council, this new initiative will maintain an ongoing dialogue with citizens and communities about the transformation that needs to happen in the city and how we can collaborate to take decisions and deliver change together.
EVENTS & WORKSHOPS
During COP26 we facilitated 2 online workshops and 1 physical workshop in the Old Fire Station on Lauriston Place. The workshops attracted over 50 participants from communities and local organisations across the city. Both workshops explored what participants felt was needed and what was desired from the new space for climate engagement.
The first workshop looked at positive community outcomes of the past year, review of what kinds of spaces participants had seen and liked, and what elements participants felt were important for engaging communities with the climate emergency.
The second in-person workshop focussed on what climate engagement might look like in the future and asked participants to imagine the engagement space in depth.
The results from these workshops have been extremely insightful and significantly helped the development of Edinburgh’s new community climate forum. We know that Edinburgh’s communities and organisations have a track record of working on nature and climate actions and are ambitious to do more.
In the coming weeks, we plan to finalise the ‘what we learned’ which reviews actions to date and suggests steps to help accelerate the development of the climate forum in 2022.
Ahead of publishing this we wanted to give you a preview of some of the results.
We’re also very excited to announce the appointment of Charlie Wright as full-time Coordinator for the Community Climate Forum.
In the coming weeks and months he will facilitate and maintain an ongoing dialogue with communities looking to help tackle climate change across the City of Edinburgh.
Charlie will take up the Coordinator post in February 2022. You can contact him at <charlie.wright@evoc.org.uk>
17 January 2022
Funding for SCCAN members: Apply by 21st January!
SCCAN is offering small ‘Pockets and Prospects‘ grants to members to help you to engage with ‘disadvantaged’ groups in your community and to work with them to tackle ‘climate disruption’. The funding has been made available by the Scottish Community Alliance.
You can apply for up to £1000. Application deadline is Friday, 21st January 2022.
14 January 2022
South West Edinburgh 20 Minute Neighbourhoods (SW20) is looking for volunteers, members and local folk to help out!
Want to help create a safer, healthier and happier local community in South West Edinburgh?
South West Edinburgh 20 Minute Neighbourhoods (SW20) is looking for people with diverse experiences to get involved. You could become a member, trustee or simply help out!
Get in touch with SW20 at hellosw20@gmail.com
12 January 2022
The Scottish Government is seeking your views and comments on the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) draft which sets out priorities and policies for the planning system and a vision for Scotland in 2045.
The consultation closes on 31 March 2022.
On Tuesday, 25 January at 5pm, we will be meeting online to discuss the draft NPF4.
Come along to share your views and help shape the final plan!
12 January 2022
Funding for local groups: Seed funding for local community events as part of Scotland’s Climate Festival
Small seed funding (up to £500) is available from Scotland’s Climate Festival for any climate-related community event taking place between 1 November 2021 and 31 March 2022.
Smaller organisations and groups interested in starting a new climate event in their community or taking their existing event to the next stage are particularly encouraged to apply.
To apply, you don’t need to be an officially constituted group; only to have a clear request of what the funds will be used for, a budget, and to be able to report back after your event.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; learn more and apply at the link below!
11 January 2022
Funding for Creatives: SCCAN offers 10 Storytelling Mini-Grants!
Are you a podcaster, writer, storyteller, videographer interested in sharing positive community climate action and justice stories? SCCAN is offering 10 mini-grants of a maximum £250 each to 10 projects focused on climate action and climate justice from storytellers who want to contribute to the collective.
This is a rolling application and the projects must be delivered by the end of March 2022 (podcasts or blog stories must at least be submitted for publication). To apply, fill in our submission form now. Please expect 10-15 days for a decision and feedback.
What will we fund?
– Podcast episodes – to be published in 1000 Better Stories
– Short stories/non-fiction reportage and creative non-fiction to be published in 1000 Better Stories blog
– Workshops on narrative-based skills and strategies for climate communication aimed at SCCAN members (preferably resulting in a specific output by participants)
– Other formats are also welcome! Short films? A play? A game? Mixed media? Comic? Tell us all about it!
Criteria
Your proposal must include:
– Community-led Climate Action
– Social Justice
And at least 1 of these topics:
– About/involving SCCAN members
– Engaging less heard communities/Giving voice to underrepresented communities (geographically, socially, young people)
If you’re not sure if your idea is a good fit for the collective or need help with the application form please get in touch with Story Weaver Joana Avi-Lorie at stories@scottishcommunitiescan.org.uk for a chat.
17 December 2021
UK Climate Change Committee: 2021 Report to Parliament
The UK Committee on Climate Change published their report: ‘Progress in reducing emissions in Scotland – 2021 Report to Parliament’ on 7 December 2021. The report evaluates Scotland’s progress in meeting its legislative targets to reduce greenhouse emissions.
According to the report, Scottish emissions fell 2% in 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, but Scotland missed its annual target significantly. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may have been sufficient for Scotland to meet its 2020 interim target. However, the rebound in emissions expected for 2021 and beyond makes it challenging to meet subsequent annual targets.
The report states that ‘the 2020s is the critical decade in changing the course for Net Zero’.Programme for Government (PfG) describe a decade of decarbonisation that is highly ambitious. ‘The majority of key policy levers are now in the hands of the Scottish Government; however, promises have not yet turned into action’.
The Climate Change Committee report stresses the need for immediate action: ‘Scotland’s climate policy must focus on the transition to Net Zero and the need for rapid progress by 2030’.
To meet its legislative targets, Scotland will need a clear and comprehensive framework according to the report, which recommends that ‘the Scottish Government publishes, as soon as possible, a detailed and transparent quantitative breakdown of how the announced plans will achieve the CCPu sectoral pathways’.
Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS) – a diverse coalition of over 60 organisations in Scotland campaigning together on climate change – welcomed ‘the overall emphasis on the need for immediate action and agreed that emissions will not be cut by ‘strategies alone’. Tom Ballantine, Chair of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland said: “This report from the UK Committee on Climate Change confirms the need for immediate action, and comprehensive plans to 2030, to reduce Scotland’s emissions and address the climate emergency. This is critical, with the Head of the Committee saying the risks of failing to meet Scotland’s 2030 emissions cut target ‘really stacking up’.
The Climate Change Plan update (CCPu), published in December 2020, and the more recent
14 November 2021
Job Opportunity: Coordinator – Community Climate Forum
Do you believe that by working collectively as a city we can tackle some of the issues contributing to net zero targets, in addition to poverty and inequality? Are you passionate about the community & voluntary sector? Enthusiastic, tenacious, a great communicator, you must enjoy dealing with community organisations, sector leaders and people with passion. Are you up for a challenge? If you like the sound of the above, then the partnership of Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council (EVOC) and Our Future Edinburgh (OFE), are looking to recruit a Coordinator for a Community Climate Forum:
Coordinator – Community Climate Forum
35 hours per week 1.0FTE Grade 4 – SJC Point 28 £27,916
POSITION: for 1 year, with funding renewal likely
This position is suitable for Job Sharea> now. Please expect 10-15 days for a decision and feedback.
What will we fund?
– Podcast episodes – to be published in 1000 Better Stories
Please complete the application form to apply for this post
Closing Date: 12 noon, Friday 3 December 2021
Interviews will be held on Monday 13 December 2021
Completed applications should be emailed to recruitment@evoc.org.uk
12 November 2021
News from COP Coalition People’s Summit in Glasgow
While world leaders gathered for COP26 to discuss our future, a People’s Summit for Climate Justice organised by COP26 Coalition was held in Glasgow from 7 – 10 November.
As part of a varied programme of events, a workshop titled ‘Our Future Cities: zero carbon, nature friendly, socially just by the 2030s?’ was delivered on 8 November 2021, which was attended by 40 people from across the UK, Europe and Asia.
The workshop – facilitated by Jenni Brooks (Climate Action Leeds) – addressed the question ‘How do you change a city?’ with presenters from Glasgow Against Closures, Our Future Leeds, the London Doughnut Coalition and Our Future Edinburgh. The speakers agreed that this can be achieved by building citizen-led, multi-stakeholder movements to connect grassroots community activity with city-scale, strategic interventions.
Glasgow Against Closures’ Angela Bretherton & Iona Soper discussed the city’s current economic crisis; the city is on the verge of bankruptcy and Glasgow Against Closures is currently fighting at a grassroots level to save vital cultural and sports resources from closure.
Andy Goldring from Our Future Leeds shared that in 2021, Our Future Leeds received £2.5 million from the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund. This substantial level of funding enables them to continue developing a flat, people-led organisation that connects, supports and empowers communities, groups and individuals to take effective, meaningful action on climate and social justice issues across the city.
Chris Brown of the London Doughnut Coalition spoke about efforts being made to implement Doughnut Economics, Kate Raworth’s economic model that offers an innovative vision of how we could shift our focus from growth to thriving. London Doughnut Coalition has been looking at what indicators would be used on a London doughnut and with whom they could partner with to explore these indicators.
Our Future Edinburgh’s Convener, Mike Wignall, talked about the journey we have been on to create a community climate action hub in Edinburgh. Our Future Edinburgh became a Charity in September, and the City of Edinburgh Council has recently sponsored us, in partnership with Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council (EVOC), to establish a community climate forum. The aim of the forum is to maintain an ongoing open dialogue with citizens about the transformation that needs to happen in the city and how we can collaborate to take decisions and deliver change together. Our first online workshop was held on 9 November, and we have an in person workshop scheduled for 18 November from 18.30 – 20.30 at the ECA Fire Station in Lauriston Place.
11 November 2021
Report: Our Future Edinburgh @ Cockburn Association Conference
Howard Beck (Our Future Edinburgh’s Partnerships Coordinator) participated in the Cockburn Association conference ‘By Leaves We Live; Seeding grassroots climate strategies in Edinburgh’ on Saturday 30 October.
Howard was on the panel that discussed “Deeds not words? Neighbourhood change starts with people”. That session, chaired by Terry Levinthal, Director of the Cockburn Association, included panellists Maureen Child (Labour councillor for Portobello/Craigmillar) and Stuart Hay (Director of Living Streets). The panel considered what we can do as individuals, as communities, and as neighbourhoods to help reduce our carbon footprint and help to not only mitigate against the wider impacts of climate change, but create better local places as well. The discussion covered a wide range of matters, including opportunities and impediments to climate change planning and action. Topics also included Local Place Planning and new perspectives and initiatives around 20-minute neighbourhoods and living local.
It is hoped that the conference and the blogs that will follow from the various panellists will prompt conversations on practical actions to address the demands of the climate and ecological emergency between local stakeholders. This fits well with the aims of Our Future Edinburgh as we are looking to initiate and maintain an ongoing open dialogue with civil society, community groups and citizens about the rapid and just transition needed in the city to achieve net-zero.
14 October 2021
A new space for communities to shape Edinburgh’s path to Net Zero
We at Our Future Edinburgh are delighted to be working in partnership with EVOC to develop a space for communities and residents to actively engage in climate discussions and offer residents practical support to take climate action.
Sponsored by the City of Edinburgh Council, this new initiative will maintain an ongoing dialogue with citizens and communities about the transformation that needs to happen in the city and how we can collaborate to take decisions and deliver change together. A steering group made up of representatives from a range of community and civil society groups will also be established to shape the forum and carry it forward.
There is already a rich tapestry of community action on climate change going on across Edinburgh and a key aim of the Forum is to be a mechanism for deliberation and co-production of policy and strategic climate action, empowering citizens and communities to influence the public and private sector to go further on tackling climate change.
We’re making plans to launch this new initiative during COP26 and invite any person or organisation interested in participating to send us an expression of interest at <comms@evoc.org.uk> so that we can keep you updated on next steps and discuss how you can get involved.
8 October 2021
Our new website is now live!
We are excited to announce the launch of our new website and Twitter account!
We are adding new content regularly, so please check back for updates.
If you have a local story or an event you would like to share, please get in touch with Lena at <lena@ourfutureedinburgh.org>
Our Future Edinburgh | email: info@ourfutureedinburgh.org
Our Future Edinburgh is a registered Scottish Charity (SC051287)