Zero Carbon Dorset is a community led project, imagining life in the county at the end of this decade...
"By 2030 we have risen to the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced and, as well as preventing environmental breakdown, the solutions we have implemented have started to address many of society’s long-standing issues; the overwhelming majority of the population are leading happier, healthier lives, communities across Dorset are more connected, work-life balances have improved and everywhere the return of nature is evident."
Dorset 2030 is a comprehensive report setting out this vision. Compiled by a team of volunteers, with input from the general public, academics and sustainability professionals it highlights more than 120 case studies of positive steps already taking place by councils, businesses, schools, universities, colleges, and most importantly community groups across the county. While these stories can provide hope about a better future for all, the report also shows how the wider Dorset community needs to build on this at scale and pace to achieve net zero in the timescale climate scientists are setting out.
"By 2030 we have risen to the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced and, as well as preventing environmental breakdown, the solutions we have implemented have started to address many of society’s long-standing issues; the overwhelming majority of the population are leading happier, healthier lives, communities across Dorset are more connected, work-life balances have improved and everywhere the return of nature is evident."
Dorset 2030 is a comprehensive report setting out this vision. Compiled by a team of volunteers, with input from the general public, academics and sustainability professionals it highlights more than 120 case studies of positive steps already taking place by councils, businesses, schools, universities, colleges, and most importantly community groups across the county. While these stories can provide hope about a better future for all, the report also shows how the wider Dorset community needs to build on this at scale and pace to achieve net zero in the timescale climate scientists are setting out.
Setting out specific vision statements of what living in a zero-carbon county in 2030 could be like, across a wide range of areas including education, reducing energy demand, moving to renewable energy, transport and justice, the report sets out how councils, including parish and town councils, and businesses can embed tackling the crisis across all policy areas so that decisions align with delivering the vision.
It also draws attention to the fact that whilst both councils declared Climate Emergencies in 2019, there is little evidence yet that they are acting as if it is an emergency. Their leadership, beyond just what they can do on their own estate, is crucial if Dorset is to play its part in tackling the crisis. While acknowledging the pandemic, a lack of funding and a coherent central government plan have hampered action, the authors call on both councils to take the lead and demand more from the government.
Acknowledging the climate and ecological crisis can appear to many to be too difficult and overwhelming to do anything about, the authors hope this report will inspire everyone to join in this critical debate, and encourage everyone to participate, taking action, no matter how small and insignificant it may appear, to build momentum for the changes needed.
It also draws attention to the fact that whilst both councils declared Climate Emergencies in 2019, there is little evidence yet that they are acting as if it is an emergency. Their leadership, beyond just what they can do on their own estate, is crucial if Dorset is to play its part in tackling the crisis. While acknowledging the pandemic, a lack of funding and a coherent central government plan have hampered action, the authors call on both councils to take the lead and demand more from the government.
Acknowledging the climate and ecological crisis can appear to many to be too difficult and overwhelming to do anything about, the authors hope this report will inspire everyone to join in this critical debate, and encourage everyone to participate, taking action, no matter how small and insignificant it may appear, to build momentum for the changes needed.
Background
Both Dorset and Bournemouth, Poole & Christchurch (BCP) Councils declared a climate and ecological emergency in 2019. These declarations are based on the scientific evidence that we have around a decade to take the required action to prevent greenhouse gas emissions exceeding levels which scientists agree will lead to irreversible and catastrophic climate change.
Recent reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [1] have identified that the consequences of allowing temperatures to rise by 2 degrees, rather than the 1.5 degree ambition set out in the Paris Climate Agreement, are stark; extreme weather events, rising sea levels, disruption to food supplies and potential societal instability, directly affecting 100’s of millions more people than at 1.5 degrees and indirectly threatening the whole of humanity. Continuing emissions at business-as-usual levels threatens our very existence. With emissions due to exceed the levels required to keep below a rise of 1.5 in the time detailed on the clock above, and with the limits to secure a better than 50% chance of staying within 2 degrees due to be exceeded in the time set out in the clock above, we must act now. Actions agreed at COP26 in Glasgow remain insufficient to address this issue.
Aligned with this we are witnessing an ecological catastrophe where extinction rates are up to 1000 times the underlying natural rate [2] and the very ecosystem that supports human life is under threat.
[1] IPCC Report (2018) https://report.ipcc.ch/sr15/pdf/sr15_spm_final.pdf (2019) https://www.ipcc.ch/report/srccl/ [2] https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cobi.12380
Recent reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [1] have identified that the consequences of allowing temperatures to rise by 2 degrees, rather than the 1.5 degree ambition set out in the Paris Climate Agreement, are stark; extreme weather events, rising sea levels, disruption to food supplies and potential societal instability, directly affecting 100’s of millions more people than at 1.5 degrees and indirectly threatening the whole of humanity. Continuing emissions at business-as-usual levels threatens our very existence. With emissions due to exceed the levels required to keep below a rise of 1.5 in the time detailed on the clock above, and with the limits to secure a better than 50% chance of staying within 2 degrees due to be exceeded in the time set out in the clock above, we must act now. Actions agreed at COP26 in Glasgow remain insufficient to address this issue.
Aligned with this we are witnessing an ecological catastrophe where extinction rates are up to 1000 times the underlying natural rate [2] and the very ecosystem that supports human life is under threat.
[1] IPCC Report (2018) https://report.ipcc.ch/sr15/pdf/sr15_spm_final.pdf (2019) https://www.ipcc.ch/report/srccl/ [2] https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cobi.12380
What do we mean by a vision?
The project aims to help show what exactly a zero carbon county would look and feel like to live in. Looking at numbers and narratives, specifically for Dorset. Climate Activist Xiye Bastida shares her vision below - how does this compare to yours?
Events
Included in the project plan is a series of events focused on each of the dynamics (see below) and other relevant subjects.
The launch event was held on March 20th, 2020, in association with Bournemouth University. Full details of this event are available here. Information on previous and future events can be found via the links below.
You can sign-up to receive information on future events via this link.
The launch event was held on March 20th, 2020, in association with Bournemouth University. Full details of this event are available here. Information on previous and future events can be found via the links below.
You can sign-up to receive information on future events via this link.
Why Dorset?
The main reason for making this a Dorset wide project rather than, say 'Poole & Bournemouth', is the unique opportunity the County of Dorset presents; an area with the second largest conurbation in the South West of England, a diverse landscape (with significant agricultural activity and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and a coast! It is difficult to think of many other areas which offer all the aspects that need to be considered when looking at addressing the climate crisis in the UK.
Keep in touch
Sign up for occasional newsletters and information on forthcoming events via this link