Climate finance and developing countries

This is a summary of issues raised in various online reports and COP 26 decisions.

We know that getting climate justice for the nations most affected by climate change, who have contributed little or nothing in emissions, is a huge priority.   The most affected areas include Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands threatened by rising sea levels, parts of sub Saharan Africa and the Arctic and the Caribbean.

The pledge from Copenhagen 2009 to provide $100 billion a year starting 2020-25 has not yet been delivered – figures from 2019 show that poor countries were given $80 billion according to the OECD.

The two main distinctions are between money for projects aimed at mitigating green house gasses, such as developing alternative energy generation using solar panels, hydro and wind farms etc., and projects designed for adaptation, such as early warning systems for extreme weather events, air conditioning to counter extreme heat, resettlement of communities away from coastal areas and changing agricultural practices to crops more resistant to drought. Examples from the November Geographical magazine include creating mangrove seawalls in Indonesia, building amphibious rather than stilted houses in Vietnam and planting salt tolerant crops in Bangladesh.

Both approaches are valid but the key issue for developing countries is that only about 20% of the $80 billion funding allocated is for adaptation projects – Global North countries preferring to sell the type of material on which they can make a profit.

Global South countries are lobbying for the financial allocation between mitigation and adaptation to be 50:50, rather than the skewed distribution at present.

Another problem is the status of the finance provided. In 2019, 71% of the public climate finance took the form of loans rather than grants. This can suck poorer countries into a cycle of debt. They have to borrow money at punishing rates of interest to repair the effects of hurricanes and cyclones and, if they use their loan to pay for a project that gets destroyed in the next extreme weather event, they are left with a debt and no tangible benefit.

Small island states and the least developed countries are now lobbying for a new stream of funding for loss and damage, in addition to mitigation and adaptation projects. Historically, the Global North has been extremely reluctant to buy into this and resists any notion of funding being compensation or restitution.

Antigua, Barbuda and Tuvalu have announced a commission to explore if there might be legal grounds for loss and damage funding from polluting countries. 

COP 26 Decisions

Many developing countries were left very disappointed by the decisions made on issues which were critical for them. It would seem that the conference was a debate between Global North countries about how far they were prepared to go to reduce emissions, having accepted to some extent there was some urgency required to keep within 1.5 degrees Celsius. Some of the developing country decisions appear to be a holding operation to be considered at another day. 

Climate funding

There were new pledges from US, UK, Germany, Japan and others of climate funding which it is estimated would finally achieve $1 billion by at least 2025 or perhaps a little earlier if other funding could be brought in. Some experts are saying that funding in trillions would be more realistic.

There was a recommendation, rather than a requirement, that developed countries should double their collective provision for adaptation projects by 2025, but this would still fall short of the 50:50 provision requested by Global South countries and there was no detail concerning time scales and transparency.

There was a mention of the impact of debt levels carried by poorer countries for the first time but no indication of how this could be reduced. It does provide a marker for future discussion, however.

There was some recommendation about making funds available as grants but also recommendations about making cheap loans which still allowed wide discretion on the part of funders.

Jubilee Debt Campaign claims, however, looking at the small print, that some countries may pay their contributions out of their existing aid budget instead of making new money available which is in the spirit of the funding. This could include the UK.

Loss and Damage Funding

This was a very important issue for frontline island nations and others which was effectively sidelined, with the promise that a “dialogue on loss and damage would begin next year in Egypt.”

To their great credit, Scotland has promised £2 million to a special Loss and Damage Fund, managing this way to provide UK money, but circumventing Boris and the Treasury who have made no such pledge. Wallonia – an area of Belgium has also pledged 1 million euros.

There will be a huge head of steam on this issue by next year, particularly after another year of global warming induced weather events, so we will wait to see what transpires.

Indigenous People Support

Five countries, including the US and UK, and global charities have promised $1.7 billion to support indigenous people and the conservation of their land. How this gets to the grassroots in an effective way will need scrutiny.

Deforestation

A group of countries have pledged £14 billion by 2030 to halt and reverse global deforestation by restoring degraded land, managing wildfires and supporting indigenous people. This has included Brazil's president, who will need detailed supervision on this!

 

The introduction of an annual review of emissions pledges at COPs means we are now in continuous campaigning mode on this issue, which should increase important pressure.

By Alison Skinner

Stand up for Climate Justice – International Day of Action on COP26

As the COP26 UN climate talks are happening in Glasgow, people across the world stood up to call for climate justice on Saturday 6^th October. In Leicester, we worked with Climate Action Leicester and Leicestershire, Green Guardians, The Race Equality Centre and the City Retreat to run an afternoon of action. 

We started at the Clock Tower at 2:30 pm, where 170 people joined a silent vigil for climate justice. We wore black or white and held placards highlighting how the climate crisis is already affecting people around the world. Passers-by stopped to read the placards and take photos or film us. 

At 3:30 pm, we walked together down High Street, holding up banners and placards, and congregated in Jubilee Square. There, we formed ourselves into the shape of an eye and a photographer took an aerial photo of us from the balcony of the Villare Hotel. This was sent to Boris Johnson with the message: ‘Leicester is watching you. We want real action for climate justice at COP26. 

We then moved onto the City Retreat on Churchgate to share plant-based food, swap pre-loved clothes and write postcards to our MPs asking them to act on climate change. 

Here are some quotes from the organisers about why we need climate justice: 

“The richest countries in the world today are not those with the most valuable natural resources, but those that ruthlessly plundered the resources of others. Too often, it is Black and brown communities who have contributed least to the climate breakdown and yet end up suffering most. For either the climate action or racial justice movement to fully succeed, they must be treated as inextricably linked. This is why The Race Equality Centre, as the only Race Equality specific organisation in Leicester, must draw attention to the issue that Climate Justice is Racial Justice and bring together the voices of our communities to support the fight for the preservation of our planet.”

Anamaria Garcia, The Race Equality Centre 

“Climate justice means requiring that the countries and companies which have contributed the most to climate change now contribute the most to dealing with it. The wealthy UK has been a key carbon emitter and has profited in the process. Fossil fuel companies have known they are causing climate change for decades but have deliberately blocked action to reduce carbon emissions. The UK must pay a fair share to help the countries, communities and people worst affected to cope with the climate crisis and develop sustainably – and work to ensure that fossil fuel companies and other major carbon polluters are required to do the same.”

Zina Zelter, Climate Action Leicester and Leicestershire 

“Our actions, habits, and lifestyles are devastating the planet we all share and everyday bringing us closer to a global catastrophe. Already, numerous species, natural habitats, and millions of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations are at a crisis point.

The City Retreat is committed to this important cause and believe the International Day of Action for Climate Justice is an important way of holding governments and multinational corporations to account for meaningful action, while also highlighting what individuals and communities can and must do to make a difference. This is a responsibility on all of us and one we cannot afford to ignore, especially in the world’s wealthiest countries where we exert the greatest carbon footprint while the poorest pay the price for our lifestyles with their lives.”

Shaykh Shafi Chowdhury, City Retreat 

“The Global North has a duty to bring clean renewable energy to the countries, people and communities which have provided our raw materials for so long. The switch to renewable energy must include the Global South, not increase human rights abuses, exploitation and environmental destruction. This means stopping human rights abuses in energy supply chains, setting legally binding targets on reducing resource use, ending the wasteful use of energy and ensuring that everyone in every country has access to clean energy.”

Hannah Wakley, Leicester Friends of the Earth

Susan (Tewley) Eppel – A Celebration Of Her Life 13th October 2021

 As many of you know, past Energy Campaigner and Treasurer of Leicester Friends of the Earth, Herbert Eppel, recently lost his wife Sue, to cancer.  Alan Gledhill, long time friend and Herbert's Best Man wrote the following tribute and recollections of his time with Sue and Herbert.

I first met Sue in the early to mid-nineties when I moved to Leicester. She was a determined campaigner for environmental issues. Having a firm grasp of issues, Sue readily and persuasively engaged with members of the public.

We were both involved in the Genetically Modified Foods campaign. We borrowed a specially made Frankenstein-like costume from national Friends of the Earth. It was a hideous, garish rubber mask decorated with GM vegetables, attached to men’s clothing, and with rubber hands. It was worn by us protesters in turn. It was quite heavy and sweaty inside, especially in the sun. Outside Sainsbury’s then Belgrave Store, we performed with this monster, assailing customers coming and going to the store. Sue wisely eschewed any time in the suit, preferring to persuasively engage with the shoppers. Later, we were invited to attend the opening of an exhibition at Snibston Discovery Park, which featured protest. It included our Franken monster. We staged a light-hearted mock protest, too. The Leader of the County Council thought it was just edgy enough to increase his street cred by being photographed with the ‘protestors’.

Former active members have their own memories of campaigning with Sue. Kay Snowdon and Neill Talbot, now living in Bristol, recall the friendly dinners, lively discussions and good humour.

"We will always remember Sue for her passion for nature and all things wildlife. We were involved in several campaigns with her over the years which included: protecting trees in a local wildlife site, persuading Parish Councils, the City Council, and Leicestershire County to let grass verges grow, and, campaigning to get biodiversity to feature more in local and regional planning. Sue with Herbert hosted some great dinner parties, and we would always end up putting the world to rights! Sue was passionate about educating people about nature and wildlife and what they could do to protect it in their local patch. Leicester and indeed the UK has lost a great supporter and advocate for wildlife and biodiversity and she will be sorely missed."

 Harriet Pugsley says, “I particularly remember, along with Sue and Debbie, taking part in a Day of Action at Raab Karcher, the timber merchant on Bede Island South.  No subterfuge was employed.   We brazenly walked in and 'stole' away some tropical hard wood that we then labelled as being stolen property from the Brazilian Amazon.  Of course, this caused some consternation. I think the police were called. We had made our point and left without being handcuffed or locked up.”

 Like most of us, Sue had diverse interests, and we heard many fond and moving recollections at her funeral from her time as a Parish Councillor, in the Aylestone Meadows Appreciation Society, campaigning for the preservation of St Mary’s Allotments as a natural space and in the Leicester Civic Society. And, importantly, Sue and Herbert got together some twenty years ago after meeting through Leicester Friends of the Earth, eventually marrying; an occasion on which I was proud to be Herbert’s Best Man.

 

Sue was certainly no armchair environmentalist. She felt she had a responsibility to contribute; towards bringing beneficial change, variously, through protection of valuable landscapes and habitat, care for animals both wild and domesticated, conservation of the riches of the cultural and built environment and, not least, to human wellbeing.

 Sue stood up to be counted, and though generally avoiding the eye of the camera, in her modest but assertive way made her very personal mark. She will be greatly missed, is rightly celebrated and will be held in our memories going forward.

 Sue’s life was celebrated at the Markfield Natural Burial Ground and at Soar Point in the city centre and was well attended at both locations.

 Alan Gledhill

Caribbean Court gardening project

Caribbean Court day centre in Highfields, with the support of The Race Equality Centre (TREC), applied to national Friends of the Earth for a grant to plant a wildlife-friendly garden and they received £500. The Chair of Trustees, Albert, used the money to buy shrubs, ferns and spring bulbs and asked if we could help with the planting. Of course we said yes! 

We had a lovely Sunday afternoon clearing a patch of ground and filling it with their new plants and bulbs. The volunteers at the Caribbean Court then provided us with tea and delicious Caribbean refreshments, which were very welcome! It was good to be out and about doing some practical activism again.

Community Responses to Climate Change at the City Retreat

On Sunday 26^th September, to mark the end of Great Big Green Week, we attended ‘Community Responses to Climate Change’ at the City Retreat on Churchgate. The event was a collaboration between The Race Equality Centre, the City Retreat, Leicester Friends of the Earth and Green Guardians. The aim was to bring together people from different communities in Leicester, to share faith perspectives on looking after the natural world and to start talking about how we can work together. The talks were recorded and you can watch them on Facebook. 

Anamaria Garcia from The Race Equality Centre, who had the idea to bring together the four organisations for the event, welcomed everyone before introducing the speakers. She explained that The Race Equality Centre want to be involved in conversations about climate change because they work with newly arrived people in the city, many of whom are now refugees because of the devastating impacts of climate change in their home countries. 

Sheikh Shafi Chowdhury, the imam based at the City Retreat, spoke first from the Muslim perspective. He explained that Muslims believe the Earth was given to us as a gift from Allah so it should be treated with sanctity. The Koran says that even on the last day of the world, when the angels are sounding their trumpets, if you have a seed in your hand you should plant it, because God loves creation. He also said that faith has many branches but the lowest branch, or the very least of faith, is to do no harm. If there is broken glass or plastic waste on the pavement, we should remove it. Faith starts with caring for our environment. He finished by saying that we may all be different but the one thing we share is the planet and we have a duty to our children’s children, and those who are already dealing with the worst impacts of climate change, to act on this issue. 

The second speaker was George Ballentyne, a member of the Baha’i community. He explained that he grew up in Glasgow, where the international climate talks will be taking place in November, and he carries the shame of his home city’s past links to slavery. He shared some quotes from Baha’i writings, including:

           The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.

And he said that we cannot talk about climate change without talking about justice. Those who are suffering the most are those who have the least and are the least able to cope. Racism is at the heart of the climate crisis. He recommended that we all read The Good Ally by Nova Reid, for more information about tackling racism. 

Chris Morley spoke from the Quaker perspective. She explained that her faith has Christian roots, with an emphasis on peace, justice, equality and sustainability. Quakers believe there is that of God in everyone, which drives them to take action to address injustice and many become activists on environmental issues, or in championing the rights of refugees. 

Raj Purohit from Hindu Climate Action pointed out that, whether people pray in a mosque, a mandir or a church, they all pray on the floor, in contact with the Earth. He described the Hindu concept of ahimsa, which means not causing harm to any species. This leads many Hindus to adopt a vegetarian or vegan diet. He said that greed has led to us taking without giving back and we should all start to ask ourselves, ‘What will I give back to Mother Earth?’ The conversation has to start in ourselves and at home.

Uri Gordon, a Hebrew educator and member of the Jewish community, began by saying that it was clear how much all the faiths have in common: they all have an ethical imperative to protect life and pursue justice. No religion puts humans in a position of mastery over nature. He urged that, at this stage in the climate crisis, faith communities should dedicate the same resource to addressing climate change as they do to solving world hunger. We need to accept that the economy will have to shrink and the military be reduced. We need to work collectively, rather than as individual consumers. Uri finished by urging everyone to ensure that the event becomes a launch pad for a continuing conversation. 

Anne Scott from Christian organisation, Greenlight, was the final faith speaker. She explained that the bible says that God created the world and was pleased with his creation. He made humans in his image to care for creation and for a while, in the Garden of Eden, humans lived in complete relationship with God and with creation. However, after the fall, the relationship between humans, God and creation was broken and part of the work of Christians in restoring their relationship to God must also be in restoring their relationship with creation. 

There followed some speakers from environmental groups in Leicester. Hannah and Bruce Wakley from Leicester Friends of the Earth presented on the causes and consequences of climate change and some of the work that we have been doing. (If you’re reading this blog, you probably already know a lot about this so I won’t repeat the details here! We used photos from the Climate Visuals library in our presentation, which I highly recommend as a useful resource for all climate activists.) 

Erfana Bora spoke about Green Guardians, a Muslim environmental group that was formed during lockdown last year. They aim to add their voices to the clamour calling for change in our homes and lives and holding corporations and governments to account. They have been making use of social media to spread their message, with campaigns like the 30-day green challenge during Ramadan. They have also organised some litter picks in Spinney Hills Park, which inspired gratitude and a positive response from local people. 

Alison Skinner from Global Justice Leicester was the final speaker. She explained the organisation’s current campaign, which aims to stop corporate courts blocking action on climate change. Mechanisms in trade deals currently enable corporations to block climate action. You can sign the campaign’s petition on their website.   

Before we all went downstairs to share food and look at the stalls, Sheikh Shafi closed by saying that this event will serve as the beginning of a conversation that is long overdue. 

Altogether, it was an informative and inspiring afternoon! We were very grateful to be a part of it. We are already starting to talk about how we can continue to work together, so watch this space…

  

Highfields Centre gardening project

As part of our new partnership with The Race Equality Centre (TREC), we are helping to create a new garden at the Highfields Centre, where TREC are based. The project has been funded by a grant of £500 from national Friends of the Earth, which is being used to buy raised beds, plants and bulbs.

Seven volunteers from Leicester Friends of the Earth and four volunteers from the Highfields Centre worked together to start the garden. We collected litter, took off the grass and installed two raised beds made of recycled plastic. We filled the raised beds with compost made from local green waste and we planted crocus bulbs, to provide an early source of nectar and pollen for the bees. We started mulching around the raised beds with woodchip, to help retain moisture in the soil. At the back of the triangular patch, next to the fence, we planted some apple mint and some wild garlic bulbs. And in the long thin strip behind the car park, we planted a thornless blackberry, to start creating an edible fence.

We'll be going back over the winter to plant some bare root fruit trees and bushes and then we'll be back again in the spring to plant herbs. If you want to get involved, keep an eye on our Facebook page or contact us to join our email list and find out the dates!

Leicester has its eye on climate talks

We launched Great Big Green Week with a street stall. Leicester Friends of the Earth volunteers had a lot of interesting conversations with passersby about COP26, the climate talks happening in Glasgow in November. Many people made a green heart pledge to act on climate change in their own lives, with pledges to walk and cycle more or eat less meat being particularly popular. The green hearts will be displayed along with pledges collected by the City Council. 

We also collected photos of people in our new giant photo frame that carries a message to world leaders at the climate talks: ‘Leicester has its eye on you’. The photos have been shared on Facebook and Twitter to call for action at the United Nations talks. A giant eyeball came along to the stall as well and posed for photos with passers-by.

Ordinary people are acting on climate change and we want to remind world leaders that they need to take action too. We are asking the UK government to end support for fossil fuels at home and abroad and help us transition to a sustainable future.

A passing Storm Trooper stopped by to support our campaign. Even the Dark Side recognises that we need to act on climate change!

Great Big Green Week - climate pledges

Community groups in Leicester are taking part in a nationwide campaign this September to highlight the need for urgent action on climate and nature ahead of COP26, the United Nations climate talks, happening later this year in Glasgow. Taking place between 18-26 September, the campaign known as the Great Big Green Week will see thousands of people across the UK organising events. The campaign aims to draw attention to climate change and destruction of the natural world, while also making a connection with these issues in local communities and showcasing actions to tackle climate change.  

We will be launching Great Big Green Week with a street stall in Gallowtree Gate tomorrow (Saturday 18^th September), between 11 am and 1 pm. We have been working with the City Council to develop a list of pledges that individuals and businesses can make to take action on climate change. Individuals will be invited to write their pledge on a green heart, which will then be displayed along with pledges collected by the City Council. We will be writing to businesses to invite them to make a pledge and these will be published here on their blog. When people have made a pledge, they will be able to have their photo taken in the group’s giant photo frame that carries a message to world leaders at the climate talks: ‘Leicester has its eye on you’. The photos will be shared on social media to call for action at the United Nations talks.

If you can't come to any Great Big Green Week events, you can still make a pledge! Here is our list of ideas.

Pledge ideas for individuals 

Transport

·       Find alternatives to driving your children to school or driving to work and try them out for a couple of weeks.

·       Avoid flying for a year.

·       Change to an electric car. 

Waste

·       Repair an item of clothing so that you can keep wearing it.

·       Buy second-hand clothing and electronics instead of new for a year.

·       Use a refillable water bottle and a reusable travel coffee mug.

·       Sign up for a vegetable box scheme to eat seasonally and reduce plastic.

·       Write a shopping list and only buy items on the list, to avoid food waste.

Power

·       Install loft insulation, draught-proofing or cavity wall insulation.

·       Turn the heating down by 2 degrees and wear another jumper.

·       Install solar panels on your house.

·       Get a heat pump.

·       Switch to a green energy supplier, such as Good Energy or Ecotricity.

Nature

·       Create a pond in your garden.

·       Leave part of your lawn to grow long to create an insect paradise.

·       Grow wildflowers to feed the bees.

·       Plant a fruit tree.

·       Stop using pesticides in your garden.

·       Switch to peat-free compost or get a compost bin and make your own.

·       Eat plant-based meals for one day each week.

·       Try going vegan for a month and learn new plant-based recipes.

And then talk to a friend about what you are doing!

Pledge ideas for businesses 

Transport

·       Install showers and secure bike parking at our office(s) to encourage cycling to work, removing parking spaces if necessary.

·       Initiate a Bike 2 Work scheme, see https://bike2workscheme.co.uk/tax-free/bikes.

·       Develop a ride sharing website for our employees.

·       Part fund public transport use for commuting, e.g., season tickets.

·       Make company car fleets all electric by <date>.

·       Make local delivery light goods vehicles electric by <date>.

·       Provide EV charging points for our company car park and investigate benefits of allowing public use too.

·       Make more use of video conferencing to reduce travel, especially flying.

·       Enable remote working for x% of employees, to save travelling.

·       Support the city council workplace parking levy proposals.

·       Purchase and use e-cargo bikes for short distance sustainable deliveries.

Waste

·       Replace plastic water bottle selling with office water filters/chillers run off the mains.

·       Provide branded refillable water bottles for our employees – good advertising!

·       Ensure no plastic is used in the wrappings of in-house refreshments.

·       Commit to using x% less paper and rely more on electronic storage.

·       Remove plastic from any packaging we use.

·       Upgrade or repair computing equipment and office furniture rather than buying new.

·       Talk to waste carrier to make sure materials are being recycled and discuss how to increase recycling rate.

Power

·       Replace lighting with LEDs to reduce energy use.

·       Switch to using 100% renewable electricity.

·       Commit to reducing our power use by x% through the installation of insulation.

·       When buying new equipment or machinery (e.g., computers, compressors), choose the most energy efficient options available.

·       Train staff on energy efficiency using the Carbon Literacy training scheme.

·       Develop a heat reuse scheme to cut power consumption, e.g., reuse waste heat from computer or production areas to heat offices.

·       Install solar panels.

·       Exploit government schemes for heat pumps to replace our gas/oil central heating.

Nature

Install green roofs, biodiverse roofs or green walls where possible – see Living roofs | Brown roofs | Biodiverse roofs | Ecology | P&P (green-roofs.co.uk)  

·       Let outside areas run wild, allowing natural processes to guide habitat management.

·       Work with NatureSpot to identify and record wildlife on our land.

·       Set up bird feeding stations and nest boxes/bat boxes in suitable outside areas.

·       Install natural flood management (such as ponds, areas of rough grassland) to slow the flow of water.

·       Reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides on all land that we manage.

Glyphosate campaign

 

We have started a petition asking the City Council to minimise the use of weedkiller which they spray around the streets of Leicester. Research has linked exposure to pesticides to a range of health issues, including cancers such as leukaemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma; neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, and disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; respiratory disorders such as asthma; and diabetes and fertility issues. Glyphosate, the weedkiller used in Leicester, was recognised as a carcinogen by the World Health Organisation in 2015. In 2020 the manufacturer of the weedkiller Roundup, which contains glyphosate, paid out over $10 billion to settle lawsuits from people who developed cancer as a result of using their product.

Whilst we recognize that it is necessary to remove plants from pavements to stop people slipping, we are asking the Council “if it is really necessary to spray parks and green spaces?  Does it really matter if wild plants grow around trees or fence posts?” Surely, we need more space for wildlife in our city. More plants = more insects, more birds, more life!

We have written to Adam Clarke the Deputy City Mayor for Leicester Council and he has confirmed that the City Council are still using Glyphosate. He explained that the Council have been working very hard to try and reduce their use of pesticides but they cannot stop using these products altogether. Unfortunately, this does mean that the parks and open spaces in the city are still being sprayed and as children are particularly vulnerable to pesticide poisoning (they absorb three times more pesticides than adults) because their skin is more permeable and they spend more time playing close to the ground, this does mean that we are putting our city children at risk! 

Members have been taking pictures of areas in parks and around open spaces which they think have been sprayed with pesticide. The photo album can be viewed here . 

We are also asking the City Council to, as a duty of care, and as an immediate measure, put up signs to alert park uses which particular areas are to be avoided as they have been sprayed. This is common practice in many cities in America. This would help to safeguard our children and pets and the health of the general public. The WHO estimates that over 350,000 people in developing countries die each year as a result of acute pesticide poisoning, with upwards of 750,000 suffering from chronic defects and cancers as a result of long-term exposure.

As well as being harmful to human health, pesticides are also damaging the environment. A single application of a pesticide or insecticide can remain present in the soil for up to three years, so repeated doses – even one every twelve months – can render the soil toxic for years. They work systemically affecting all of a plant including its pollen and nectar, which means they are taken up by pollinators such as bees. Given the vital role that insects play in our ecosystems, and the importance of nature in helping to tackle the climate emergency, it seems imperative that the Council stops spraying its land with substances that are so harmful to insects and human health.

The petition will be presented to the City Council later this year asking them to re-think the way they manage our green spaces. Please help to encourage the Council to keep our children safe and sign it at

Melanie Wakley

New partnership with The Race Equality Centre

Today marks the launch of our new partnership with The Race Equality Centre in Leicester! We're so excited to be working with them.

Here's the press release:

Leicester groups link up to fight racism and the climate emergency 

•       Race and climate justice must go hand-in-hand, say groups

•       Two Leicester sites in desperate need of reviving with some creative planting to be transformed into wildlife-friendly spaces

 Race equality and environmental groups in Leicester are teaming up to fight racism and the climate emergency. 

The Race Equality Centre (TREC) is joining forces with Leicester Friends of the Earth and Climate Action Leicester and Leicestershire to jointly campaign for a cleaner, fairer future. 

This is a crucial year for combatting the climate emergency, with the UK government hosting the COP26 UN climate summit in Glasgow later this year. 

The historical bulk of pollution over centuries has come from industrialised nations in Europe and North America, but it’s poorer countries, that have done the least to cause climate breakdown, that are now paying the highest price. Many of the people and organisations TREC works with come from climate-threatened nations, such as Sudan, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. 

At a national level the groups are calling for richer countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions faster and provide financial aid to less wealthy nations to help them cope with the sharp end of the climate crisis.

On a local level, to mark this positive and creative partnership, the organisations will be transforming two derelict local spaces into wildlife-friendly gardens projects. The sites at the Highfields Centre where TREC is based, and the Caribbean Court Day Centre, will also promote the well-being of service users. 

Iris Lightfoote, CEO of TREC, said: 

“We are delighted to launch this partnership with Friends of the Earth. We have much in common – both organisations are passionate about tackling racism and the climate crisis. Ending racial injustice has to be part of facing up to climate change.

“The home nations of many of our service users are already on the sharp end of climate change. They are already suffering from severe drought and flooding that has devastated crop yields causing economic devastation and forcing communities to flee into unknown territories for a better life. It’s vital that communities join together to stop the climate crisis getting any worse.” 

Albert Blake, Chair of Trustees, Caribbean Court Day Centre, said:

“We are pleased to be working with Leicester Friends of the Earth to build new green space in the city. Friends of the Earth’s start up grant will help our service users get involved in creating an eco-friendly space within our local environment, and it will be great for their wellbeing too!”

Hannah Wakley, Co-ordinator of Leicester Friends of the Earth, said: 

“We are delighted to have formed this partnership with TREC and to have found so much in common. The two garden projects are exciting, and we are looking forward to working with them on our campaign to raise awareness around the vital COP26 international climate talks in Glasgow in November.” 

Richard Dyer, East Midlands Campaign Organiser, Friends of the Earth’s head office, said: 

“If we are to win against climate change, we also have to win on racism. Climate change is already impacting on all of us. We must work together for a fairer, greener world. Our new partnership with TREC is a vital development in building links between environmental and racial justice.”

It was covered in the Leicester Mercury.

Helping out at Melbourne Street Community Garden

We had a lovely morning at Melbourne Street Community Garden in Highfields, helping Aamenah who co-ordinates the volunteers looking after the garden. They took over the site quite recently and had quite a challenge even opening the gate because of the brambles at first! They've been making good progress in clearing and we helped out by getting the main raised bed ready to plant, creating a small herb bed, spreading woodchip and cutting back the scrub at the back of the garden.

 

Pesticide spraying

At a recent Parish Council meeting in my village the PC voted to carry on spraying round the village tennis court and play area with weedkiller.  When I enquired what the weedkiller is that they use I was told it was glyphosate and I was also told that it was ok because it is what the County Council use.

I wrote to Leicester City Council and to Leicestershire County Council asking them to stop spraying with glyphosate as lots of other Councils have already stopped spraying.

Leicestershire County Council responded saying they had put the spraying (of the highways) on hold and it was under review and they would let me know the result of the review and their decision about spraying.

Leicester City Council were not quite so helpful in as much as they are carrying on spraying and explained their reasons why they had to.  Basically, they said they had tried and researched other methods but they were too costly and time consuming so they needed to keep spraying.

This is an ongoing project and we are formulating our response to Leicester City Council at the moment.  Watch this space….

Leicester & Leicestershire Peat-Free List

Since launching our 'Leicester is No Place for Peat' campaign, we have been encouraging individuals to pledge to only use peat-free compost. We have also been contacting organisations and asking them to take the same pledge. We are now ready to reveal our list of peat-free places in Leicester and Leicestershire! This will be updated regularly as more organisations pledge to go peat-free. To help our peat-free friends, we're also compiling a list of where to buy peat-free compost locally. If you know of a shop or an organisation that should be included on our list, please contact us.

Peat-Free Places and Organisations

Avenue Primary School, Leicester

Brooke House School, Cosby, Leicestershire

Brookside Primary School, Oadby, Leicestershire

Graceworks Community Garden, Evington, Leicester

Granby Primary School, Leicester

Leicester City Council (all gardens)

Manor High School, Oadby, Leicestershire

Overdale Infants School, Leicester

Overdale Junior School, Leicester

University of Leicester

Woodland Grange Primary School, Oadby, Leicestershire

 

Peat-Free Compost Suppliers

Most big chain stores selling garden supplies will have at least one brand of peat-free compost, although you may need to check labels carefully to find it!

Attfields Farm Shop, Cosby, Leicestershire

Coles Nursery, Thurnby, Leicestershire

Co-op supermarkets 

For a full list of peat-free compost brands and peat-free nurseries across the UK, check out Dogwooddays’ list. The nearest peat-free nursery is Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland, which only grow using peat-free compost. You can order from them online and plants will arrive in cardboard packaging.

City Council should take back control of the buses

Alongside Climate Action Leicester and Leicestershire, we have today written to the City Mayor urging him to take back control of the buses. You can read our letter below. We think we need a radical improvement in our public transport in the city and the bus companies are never going to provide it of their own accord. 

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Dear City Mayor, 

We are writing to you as transport activists. In some cases, we have spent many years campaigning for better public transport in Leicester. 

We have read the Draft Bus Plan and we are pleased to see the level of ambition for improving bus services and increasing patronage. When we are facing a climate emergency, we need a radical improvement in the bus services to persuade people to make the necessary change in their transport habits.

 

We know that you have decided to pursue an Enhanced Partnership. However, we have no faith that the Enhanced Partnership mechanism will enable these ambitions. It is our experience that the bus companies in Leicester are not really interested in improving their services as long as they maintain their profits. 

The National Bus Strategy states, ‘We will support any LTA which wishes to access franchising powers, and which has the capability and intention to use them at pace to deliver improvements for passengers’ (p.10). We understand that there are difficulties associated with franchising and finding the capacity within the Council to manage that system. However, we believe it is necessary for the Council to take that level of control if there is to be a significant improvement in the bus services. We know that you have always wanted better control of the city’s public transport and we hope that you will lead the way for UK cities in seeking this.

We urge you to work with other cities and the County to seek joint agreement that franchising is the only realistic means of achieving networks and services commensurate with the government’s decarbonisation requirements, and then to do everything you can together to win the government’s support for that approach. We would be happy to do whatever we can to help, and look forward to hearing your reaction to this proposal. 

Yours sincerely,

The members of:

Leicester Friends of the Earth 

Climate Action Leicester and Leicestershire’s Transport Action Group

Climate Action Leicester and Leicestershire’s Low Carbon Planning and Housing Group

Peat-free gardening concerns and peat-free posters

Since starting the ‘Leicester is no place for peat’ campaign, we’ve heard a few concerns about gardening without using peat. I wanted to take this opportunity to respond to those. 

Quite a few of us in Leicester Friends of the Earth are keen gardeners so we can talk from experience. I’ve got a garden and an allotment. I’ve had my allotment for just over 10 years and I grow vegetables and soft fruit there. In my garden, I grow herbs and flowers in the borders and salad leaves in containers. 

My sister helping with re-potting

Plants grown in peat-free compost at my allotment

Here are my responses to the concerns we’ve heard: 

“It's difficult to find peat-free compost / plants in shops”

You do have to shop carefully if you’re trying to avoid peat because compost and plants grown using peat won’t usually be labelled. You have to look for products specifically labelled ‘peat-free’. There is a handy list of peat-free compost brands to look out for and nurseries that sell plants grown in peat-free compost on the DogwoodDays blog – you might want to bookmark it! Unfortunately, none of the nurseries are close to Leicester but most sell online. If you visit a garden centre and you can’t tell whether plants are grown in peat-free compost, ask! It will help garden centres to move towards being peat-free if they understand that there is a demand for it. 

“Peat-free compost is expensive”

The price of compost does vary but the peat-free compost I buy from my local hardware shop is the same price as the high-peat brand. I think it might be a complete myth that peat-free is more expensive. Peat does of course also have an enormous environmental cost; extracting it destroys valuable wildlife habitat and contributes to climate change. So if ever you’re tempted by a cheap peat-based compost, remember that you’re not paying the real price! The cheapest compost of all, of course, is garden compost, so make sure that you’re composting your green waste at home – the RHS have useful advice about how to start composting. 

“Peat-free compost is too coarse for seeds”

I grow nearly all of my plants (vegetables, flowers and herbs) from seed in shop-bought peat-free compost mixed with garden compost. I tend to use the same brand (New Horizon), because that seems to be most widely available near to where I live. However, there are several different brands and I’ve spoken to friends who use other brands with similar results. I never have any problems growing seeds. There are sometimes small pieces of woody material in peat-free compost, just as there are in my garden compost. I pick out any larger pieces as I’m sowing seeds but the smaller pieces don’t seem to cause any problems. I think the idea that seed compost has to be very fine comes from old gardening books – in my experience, it isn’t true! 

The other thing to remember is that peat itself does not contain the nutrients that growing plants need – it has to be added artificially to peat-based composts. Whereas garden compost and peat-free compost you buy in the shops is full of plant nutrients, just as nature intended. 

If you have any other concerns about gardening without peat, please leave a comment below or get in touch – we’d be happy to talk about this further.

 

If you’ve gone peat-free and you’re trying to persuade friends and neighbours to join you, we now have peat-free posters available! Please feel free to download and print. The two hand-drawn posters were designed by pupils at Brooke House Day School in Cosby, who have been learning about peat in their climate literacy lessons.