Climate Change, cost of living and the Kirklees third sector
Climate change now
The record hot temperatures this week are a fierce reminder that climate change is happening right now, with a direct impact on all living things. Being out in the heat of the day was an extraordinary experience – almost surreal. This Huddersfield Hub article highlights the health impacts: Health-threatening heatwaves to become more intense, warns Huddersfield Friends of the Earth – Huddersfield Hub
Climate change brings an intensification in weather patterns – rain falls harder for longer, winds blow stronger and as this week shows, hot days can become unbearably hot. More intense weather means more floods, more wind damage, more drought.
Resilient communities
Third sector organisations are on the front line on climate change and how governments and large organisations respond. They support vulnerable people whose health is at risk from heat stress, households whose finances struggle to pay higher food and fuel costs, communities affected by poor air quality and the loss of green space and as public services are stretched by low budgets and high demand, third sector organisations do what they can to strengthen communities so that people can help themselves and each other.
Third sector organisations help communities to be resilient, organised, inclusive and able to address inequalities. Buildings, services, volunteering and opportunities to come together are key to building strong communities. Without strong communities, individuals make more demand on public services and take longer to recover from setbacks – with real impacts on quality of life, local economies and loss of community connections.
Third sector action
Community organisations all over Kirklees are helping to distribute the governments Household Support Fund to those in need, applying to TSL Kirklees and the One Community Foundation for the funds.
The One Community Foundation grant panels are expecting to see higher core running costs in grant applications in future and will be sympathetic to these applications. Some funds are focused on energy efficiency capital works and demand is expected to be high.
The Bread & Butter Thing is working with local organisations in areas with higher levels of poverty, to distribute quality food at affordable cost.
Food banks, advice services, financial education, energy efficiency advice and works, support to refugees and asylum seekers, awareness raising on climate change, protection of green spaces, volunteer run community buildings, clothing and furniture recycling – third sector organisations across Kirklees are making a difference.
Community buildings investment
Many community organisations are already struggling with higher energy bills, materials and staffing costs. This winter will be a huge challenge for many.
TSL Kirklees would like to hear about your organisations situation. Please complete this 7 minute survey: https://forms.office.com/r/39WnBwFH4x.
Higher utility bills mean more money flowing out of our communities and into international energy companies’ shareholders. If we can reduce energy use, then it means more funds for our charitable purpose, more money circulating in the local economy and less fossil fuels used. Energy efficiency works on community buildings and local homes is a positive impact on the ‘triple bottom line’ – it has good social, economic and environmental outcomes.
The Community Buildings survey suggests that there are around 150 community buildings across Kirklees which are important to the third sector. Many of these are not energy efficient and could benefit from insulation, draught proofing, zoning – to heat only the spaces that need heating, energy efficient lighting and appliances, and solar panels.
Some energy efficiency works will have a short payback period. For example, if £500 on energy efficient lighting reduces electricity bills by £250 a year, then the ‘payback period’ is 2 years – that is when your investment is returned. An energy audit can identify these no-brainer investments. Loft and cavity wall insulation often have very short payback periods.
However, financial return is just one factor. It is important to reduce the energy use of community buildings for social and environmental reasons too. Even if the payback period is 10 or 15 years, investment is still required to keep our community buildings running and reduce carbon emissions.
There is an urgent need for a programme of energy audits of community buildings and investment in energy efficiency measures. An average of £20,000 per building spent on 75 buildings is a total of £1.5m. This would have a huge impact: sustaining community activities and services, boosting the local economy, reducing carbon emissions, reducing funds leaking out of Kirklees and demonstrating confidence in our communities.
Yes, it’s complex. Community building ownership varies and many buildings are in poor repair generally. We need a skilled local workforce to do energy audits and retrofit works. Materials costs are high and we will need reliable suppliers. It will all take a lot of managing and coordinating, to ensure good value and speedy implementation.
The learning and systems developing through a community buildings energy efficiency programme will support a programme of homes and businesses energy efficiency works.
Ideally, this programme would be led by third sector organisations – community businesses or non-profits based in Kirklees, providing green jobs and ensuring any surplus is reinvested for local benefit.
Strategic plans and tools
All public buildings and most homes are intended to be insulated by 2030 in the West Yorkshire Plan – see: Tackling the Climate and Environment Emergency Together | Your Voice (westyorks-ca.gov.uk). The cost of living crisis means we need to move faster.
Practical advice on climate action for charities working in sports and leisure, is offered by the umbrella body for that sector: Climate Change – Community Leisure UK.
The Centre for Local Economic Strategics and the Carbon Co-op are offering to help communities plan the transition to sustainable energy use. The Energy Futures Toolkit Energy Futures Toolkit – Community Led Action Planning (carbon.coop) takes a thorough approach to looking at holistic energy planning for an area.
You can tell TSL Kirklees what your organisations concerns and ideas are, in relation to climate change and cost of living, through this 7 minute survey: https://forms.office.com/r/39WnBwFH4x.
Kirklees Climate Commission
The Kirklees Climate Commission is one year old. The commission model is based on the Place-based Climate Action Network model developed in Leeds. For more information, including notes of meetings see: Kirklees Climate Commission |
In recent months, the commission has secured the support of Huddersfield University, which is providing meeting rooms and facilities free of charge and is committed to further supporting the commission. Kirklees Council continue to provide staff time to support the commission.
Some commissioners have been keen to see the Commission develop into an independent organisation. A management group has been formed to work on this and we are exploring the options. It is likely that the commission will at some point become a charity.
Consultations and community involvement
Kirklees Council is developing a Sustainability Strategy alongside its Wellbeing and Economic strategies. Robert.green@kirklees.gov.uk is leading some initial sessions to develop this, working with consultants www.wsp.com. In September, the Council will present a first draft for consultation with wider stakeholders including the third sector then to Council for approval.
The 2022 Youth Climate Festival, organised by Kirklees Council and local schools, will take place on Tuesday 11th October at Kirklees College in Huddersfield and Thursday 13th October at the Al-Hikmah centre in Batley.
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is consulting on Dewsbury Town Centre walking and cycling improvements until 22 August. See: Dewsbury Town Centre Walking and Cycling Improvements | Your Voice (westyorks-ca.gov.uk) and on West Yorkshire bus services till 11 September see: The Mayor’s Big Bus Chat | Your Voice (westyorks-ca.gov.uk)