Epsom & Ewell

u3a

Climate Conversations

Status:Active, open to new members
Contact:
When: Monthly on Monday mornings
2nd Monday
Venue: Birchgrove Lower Mill

Group Leader: Will Ward

First Meeting Monday May 12th 2025

Do you worry about Climate Change yet also sometimes feel a bit helpless about what you can so about it?

Then join this discussion group to better understand the science and the solutions that are unique to each of us depending on our individual circumstances.

We all come across books and news stories about this topic and some of these could from the basis of our discussions and sharing of reference materials.

This could help us structure our discussions as selected by the group. The discussion will be conducted in a manner that allows everyone's views to be listened to in order to help us all improve our understanding.

This group is started in May 2025. The initial idea is that we will meet 10.30am - 12.30 on the second Monday of every month but could extend this to also meet on the fourth Monday if that is what people want.

We can meet at the facilities offered free to the u3a at Lower Mill.

If you would like to know more please contact Will Ward via the link who would be pleased to answer any questions you may have.

Suggested “code of conduct” and Topic List to be kept under review by the group.

Everyone’s views is valid no matter how different to our own. We do not have to agree only be prepared to listen to one another as listening to different views helps challenge our own thinking. Everyone to be given the “space” to participate but nobody will be pressured to participate. Only one person should be talking at any one time.  Put one hand up if waiting to speak. Try to keep your points reasonably short and succinct to give time for others to contribute. Politely indicated (two hands up?) to indicate the point has been made or going off topic. Our bounded topics for discussion to be agreed in advance so that people have time to prepare if they wish to.

Ongoing long list of ideas for topics - in no priority order

Mon 12/5/25 - Should Net Zero by 2050 just be Zero?

On Monday 14/6/25What has our government signed up to commit to Net Zero by 205O

Summary by Good Energy of what the Climate Change Committee are asking the Government to

do comply with the Climate Change Act 2008/19.

https://www.goodenergy.co.uk/blog/benefits-net-zero-homes/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=good_thinking_april25&utm_content=domestic

Feb 25 7th Carbon Budget report by the UK Government Climate Change

https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/the-seventh-carbon-budget

Ongoing List (NO PRIORITY and keep under review) Plus ANY Questions from Dr Keal book * TOPICAL?

What can we do as individuals to reduce our persona impact? Use What Next? info. Sheets?

1 DIET? 2 HOUSING 3 TRAVEL 4 GOODS and SERVICES? What is a Circular Economy?

*How urgent is Climate Change? Evidence of negative effects and deaths already occurring?

* Economic Growth? Green Growth? De growth in theory and practice?

What do we think our world needs to change to meet net zero by 2050? Are there any benefits?

What do the different age and demographic categories in the UK think about Climate Change?

What do young people think? Are they prepared to support the changes necessary?

What are the various Geo Engineering ideas and how likely are they to work?

2019 UK Citizen Assembly on Climate Change? What did they recommend to Government?

Does lobbying local Politicians about Climate Change work?

*Eco Tourism around the world v the growing demand to fly on holiday?

16/6/25 Lessons the worldwide Covid lockdowns that might be helpful in reducing Climate Risk?

How do the different world religions appear to be responding to Climate change?

PV Solar or Heat pumps etc Talk from trusted source – Dealing with negative News stories?

What do we understand by the term Climate Justice?

What is Regenerative Agriculture mean in practice?

Understanding why people believe conspiracy theories?

What is Difference between extreme weather events/records and Climate Change?

Is public opinion of Nature Loss seem to be less important than concerns about Climate Change?

What is David Attenborough’s contribution to the Climate Change Nature loss debate?

What Small Island States lobbying for more urgent action to reduce the risk of Climate Change?

What are the pros and Cons of the DRAX power station?

What are the current predictions if the world continues to emit at the current rates?

16/6/25 A number of questions came out of the group’s discussion including:

Is over population the biggest issue?

Is time running out or already run out?

Are the UK efforts compared to China and the USA and India too insignificant?

Is the annual COP (Conference of the Parties) failing to work e.g. undermined by vested interest and

plagued by negative news stories. 

How can Net Zero be afforded when the UK Government gets voted back in by spending money on

Education and the NHS etc.?

Is our democratic (media distorted) process suited to deliver the hard decisions required especially when

only 50% of people vote? 

Talk – Heat Pump and PV Solar? - Personal experiences in procuring and using at a home locally

Talk Home Energy Efficiency as part of the Climate Action Networks Heat+ Project?

Talk Refill Shop?

Talk Teresa to request the Sustainability consultants who developed The Lower Mill Project?

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