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Community Energy in a Climate Emergency: East London Takes Action!

Tower Bridge skyline

Please note that this event has already occured.

Key information

Date: Monday 01 July 2019

Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Venue: Idea Store Whitechapel, 321 Whitechapel Rd, London, E1 1BU, GB

Cost: Registration (free)

The past few months has seen close to 100 UK councils declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’. Across London seven boroughs have passed motions adopting a Climate Emergency, including in East London Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hackney, Waltham Forest, and with petitions currently in place in Redbridge and Havering.

East London has a huge range of community groups already working to improve the environment of their neighbourhoods. Over the past few years, there have also been an increasing number of community energy projects coming forward providing advice to residents on improving energy efficiency, alleviating fuel poverty, and installing solar panels on community buildings. These projects have been designed, created and financed by the local community

There is a real urgency for new projects to come forward, and Community Energy London has worked with the Mayor of London to bring forward the London Community Energy Fund, which is currently supporting over 30 projects across the capital. New London borough carbon offset funds are also emerging which are beginning to support local carbon reduction action.

“Community Energy in a Climate Emergency: East London Takes Action!” will provide an opportunity to:

  • Hear the latest plans from councils who are taking action on tackling climate change

  • Find out how groups have developed community energy projects – from installing solar projects, to supporting energy efficiency retrofits- keeping homes warm with lowering energy bills.

We want to share best practice, find out and support other project ideas that community groups around East London are hoping to progress and build links between groups and councils to deliver a programme of action to help contribute to London’s pathway to zero carbon.

5.45pm Registration

6pm

  • Welcome Cllr. Rachel Blake, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Planning, Air Quality and Tackling Poverty, Tower Hamlets Council

  • Cllr Mas Patel, Commissioner for Air Quality and Climate Change, Newham Council

  • Abdul J Khan, Service Manager – Energy, Sustainability & Private Sector Housing, Tower Hamlets Council

  • Sarah Holliday, Community Energy in Action: Case Study, Bromley by Bow Centre

  • Leila Fortunato, Community Energy in Action: Case Study, Hackney Energy

  • Discussion

8pm Close

Snacks and refreshments will be available

Background

The publication of the IPCC’s 1.5°c study has spurred on the debate on climate change as never before. School Climate Strikes, the emergence of Extinction Rebellion and the Committee on Climate Change’s Net Zero 2050 study has now led to the government’s pledge earlier this month to amend the 2008 Climate Change Act and legislate for a 2050 zero carbon target, the first government in the world to do this.

This year Community Energy Fortnight (CEF) (22 June to 7 July 2019) coincides with the Mayor’s first London Climate Action Week (LCAW) – taking place 1 – 8 July 2019. This is a major new initiative by the Mayor to showcase London as global city at the forefront of tackling climate change, with the commitment, skills and expertise to achieve his target for London to be a zero carbon city by 2050.

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