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Notice

Royal College of Art student collaboration

12 January 2024. Some students at the Royal College of Art would like our help with a project. Please contact the webmaster (address at the bottom of the page) if you would like to help.

The project brief that Aadhyaa mentions is here: Royal-College-of-Art-Grand-Challenge-2023-24-Student-Brief.pdf (PDF, 3 pages, 250kB)

Good morning

I hope this mail finds you well. We are a group of design students from the Royal College of Art, London, and are reaching out to express our interest in connecting with Barnet Climate Action Group for our RCA Grand Challenge 2023/24: Ocean & Cities project.  

The RCA Grand Challenge 2023/24: Ocean & Cities (GC), brings London closer to the ocean, exploring a wide range of design challenges at the interface of land and sea. The goal is to support behaviour change among citizens and organisations through the use of *ocean science, co-design and place-based approaches to:

1. Address the impacts of cities on the ocean.

2. Increase city resilience to ocean-related impacts of climate change.

As required for the project, we have been allotted The London borough of Barnet, as our area of interest. We were fortunate to even connect with the borough representative, Mr Ammar Naqvi, and his team, last year.

We are particularly interested in being a part of a discussion with some members of your organisation around the theme. Our goal is to explore the evolving relationship between the local residents of Barnet and the water bodies in the vicinity.

The proposed discussion could touch upon various aspects, including the historical significance of our local water bodies, our relationship with it while growing up, past/early memories around it, environmental changes affecting them, and the role they play in our daily lives now. Additionally, we can delve into potential community initiatives to preserve and enhance the quality of our water sources.

I am writing to inquire about the possibility of collaborating with your group , hopefully sometime next week. Your group's expertise and community outreach efforts make you an ideal partner for such a discussion. We are open to any suggestions or guidelines you may have regarding the event logistics and format.

Please let us know if you are available to discuss this idea further. We are enthusiastic about the prospect of bringing our community together for an insightful conversation about our local water resources.

I am also attaching the project brief issued by the university for your further reference.

Thank you for considering our proposal, and we look forward to the opportunity for collaboration.

Best regards

Aadhyaa Bhatt
MA Textiles
(Group representative)


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Event Meeting Notice

Barnet’s Citizens’ Assembly Action Group Kickoff

Update 14 March 2024. The six Action Teams have now been set up. The name was changed from Action Group to Action Team. If you would be interested in joining one of the teams, please contact the webmaster, details at the foot of the page. The teams correspond to the five areas in the Citizens Assembly report, plus an inter-faith team. For details of the five areas, see the council’s response to the recommendations from the Citizens’ Assembly (PDF download from https://engage.barnet.gov.uk/response-to-recommendations-from-the-citizens-assembly).

Update 18 January 2024. After attending the Barnet’s Citizens’ Assembly Action Group Kickoff meeting last night (17 January 2024, details below), I (Charles) think that there are major problems with the way that the community action is being organised. We need to have a much clearer view of what the council is planning to do, with cost/benefit numbers attached, and plan together how it is going to be implemented. Please get in touch via the email address at the bottom of the page if you would like to help improve the process.

As a followup to the Barnet Citizens’ Assembly, Barnet council have organised Barnet’s Citizens’ Assembly Action Group Kickoff meeting on Wednesday, 17 January 2024 in the evening.

Flyer here: BarNET ZERO Digital Invitation.pdf (PDF, 1 page, 140kB)

Dave McCormick writes:

The next event on the road to working to address the climate and biodiversity challenges is Wednesday 17th Jan 6.30- 9pm at Middlesex University Hendon.

My understanding is that the session will have 3 main elements:

  1. Sharing information about community activities that are already happening
  2. How to make community activities more impactful – building networks and partnerships, working with the council etc
  3. Action planning for action groups on areas to focus on. Action groups will include residents and council representatives and will have the challenge of making tangible progress by this summer on the path to sustainable Barnet

Example areas that I think may feature are housing and buildings (renewable energy/retrofit), food, waste, air quality, active travel, healthy nature… – but it will be shaped by who is in the room.

If you have a passion for something, want to find out what is going on, see how you can help make a difference, say what the council could do to help please come along.

To register please go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/barnets-citizens-assembly-action-group-kickoff-tickets-779351099117

Please share this invite.

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Meeting Notice

February 2022 Meeting – A Sustainability Strategy for the London Borough of Barnet

Update 2 February: the presentation on Barnet Council’s recently released Sustainability Strategy Framework is now available. (PDF 580 Kb, 19 slides)

Our February meeting is on Tuesday 1st February 2022 from 6.30pm to 7.30pm online.

Please book on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-sustainability-strategy-for-the-london-borough-of-barnet-tickets-254382814847. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants.

Presentation and Discussion on Barnet’s Forthcoming Sustainability Strategy for the Borough

Barnet Council’s Sustainability Strategy Framework was unanimously passed through at their Policy and Resources Committee meeting on 9 December 2021.

The Sustainability Strategy itself is expected to be released by Barnet Council in early 2022.

Ahead of the 9 December Committee meeting, BCAG posted a briefing paper on the Framework document (available here – which includes links to the Framework document) and set out a series of questions relating to the Strategy – a number of which were highlighted by Councillors at the Committee meeting. Also see Barnet Borough Times report on the meeting and Framework here.

January 2022’s BCAG meeting will provide a presentation and discussion on the Framework document and forthcoming Sustainability Strategy.

A zoom link will be sent to all registered participants closer to the time of the event.

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Meeting Notice

November 2021 Meeting — Air Source Heat Pumps

Living with an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP)

Update: We had a second speaker Jesse Scharf as well as Jonathan Waxman as originally advertised. Here are their slides:

Our November meeting is on Wednesday 24th November 2021 from 7pm to 8pm online.

Please book on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/living-with-an-air-source-heat-pump-ashp-tickets-211638726127. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants.

Air Source Heat Pumps (AHSP) are a low carbon technology to heat homes – what is it like living with one?

There has been much in the press of late around the end of gas heating and a shift to new home heating solutions from heat networks to heat pumps. The Prime Minster has stated that there will be ban on all new gas boilers in new build properties from 2025 and a ban on gas boilers being fitted into all homes from 2035.

The Government has set a target for annual installations of heat pumps in 600,000 homes by 2028 – a 20 fold increase over the current rate of installs. Many of these are planned to be added in new build homes – but at least a third are hoped to be retrofitted into existing homes. A new Boiler Upgrade Scheme is to be introduced in April 2022 to support the deployment of low-carbon heat in existing buildings. This will provide households with £5,000 grants when they switch to an air source heat pump (ASHP) or £6,000 when they switch to a ground source one.

Jesse Scharf and Barnet resident Jonathan Waxman have both recently had ASHPs installed in their homes and will be providing some insights on the process leading up to the choice of a heat pump, the installation process and kit, costs, and the differences in heat your home with a heat pump as compared to a conventional gas boiler.

Background Reading

Which guide to ASHPs

Heating and Building Strategy (October 2021)

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Event Meeting Notice

September 2021 Meeting — Updates and Organising

The September meeting of Barnet Climate Action Group is a chance to hear updates from members about their activities, and to organise our plans for the future. It will be held on Zoom on Tuesday 28th September 2021 at 6.30pm. Those on our mailing list will have received the Zoom details. If anyone else would like to join us, please get in touch via the email address at the foot of the page.

We will be covering:

  • An update on Barnet’s Sustainability Strategy
  • BCAG communications with Barnet Council
  • Friends of the Earth communications with Barnet Council
  • Barnet Local Plan
  • Forward looking plan on environment issues national/local
  • Supporting the work of BCAG
  • Phone Hubs
  • AOB
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Event Meeting Notice

June 2021 Meeting — Nudging Barnet

Nudging Barnet: Behaviour Change and the Climate Emergency

Our June meeting is on Wednesday 16th June 2021 from 6pm to 7.30pm online.

Please book on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nudging-barnet-behaviour-change-and-the-climate-emergency-tickets-157198846983. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants.

Introducing “positive” behaviours in residents and businesses in Barnet to encourage initiatives to reduce climate impacts.

This month’s Barnet Climate Action Group (BCAG) meeting will discuss opportunities in Barnet on measures, information and “nudges” that could be introduced to support “positive” behaviours in residents and businesses in the borough to encourage initiatives to reduce their climate impacts.

The discussion will be led by Dr Simon Moore of behavioural science experts Innovation Bubble.

The UK has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 40% since 1990 but this progress has come largely from actions that have not involved consumers changing their behaviour – notably decarbonisation of electricity supply. Over the coming decade there will be a need to shift focus to other more challenging sectors of energy use such as decarbonising transport and heat which will require more more intervention in our lives.

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) are also pointing to other areas where public action will be needed such as a reduction in the consumption of all meat and dairy of 50% by 2050 compared to today’s levels, a reduction in flying of 10% compared to pre- COVID levels, and up to one third of all car journeys being replaced by walking, cycling or public transport

The role of individual behaviour change will be important if the UK is to achieve Net Zero and there is now an urgent need to identify and implement solutions for promoting greater engagement and action from citizens and consumers.

You may be interested in reading Prof Nick Chater recent report from the CCC ‘Net Zero after Covid: Behavioural Principles for Building Back Better‘

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Event Meeting Notice

May 2021 Meeting — Barnet Climate Plan Workshop

Outline map of Barnet with the words "A climate plan for Barnet, Sunday 16th May 2 to 5 pm"

Update 24 May: reports and slides are gradually being assembled on the Barnet Climate Plan page.

Barnet Climate Action Group will be hosting an online workshop from 2pm to 5pm on the afternoon of Sunday 16 May 2021 to discuss citizen, business and council climate action needed in the London Borough of Barnet to respond to the Climate Emergency.

The current plan is to have an introductory session all together followed by two breakout sessions and a final plenary.

In the first breakout session, we will break up into two groups to discuss in parallel:

  • Buildings
    • Retrofitting existing buildings
    • Domestic and non-domestic buildings
    • Energy efficiency
    • Renewable heat and renewable power
  • Waste and Consumption
    • Waste reduction, food waste and recycling
    • Plastics
    • Circular economy
    • Spending in a climate friendly way
    • Food: meat, dairy, plant-based, vegan, vegetarian

You may join whichever group you wish.

In the second session we will discuss, again in parallel:

  • Transport
    • Reducing car use and switching to electric vehicles
    • Public transport
    • Walking and cycling
    • Deliveries
  • Nature
    • Green spaces
    • Trees
    • Rewilding
    • Biodiversity
    • Flood prevention using nature

If there is something not mentioned that we ought to cover, let us know and we will add it to one of these lists. When it is not obvious, topics will be assigned to these in an arbitrary way. For example industrial emissions will be discussed under Buildings, as a lot of industry in the borough consists of offices.

We have allocated quite a long time so everyone gets a chance to have their say. If you can’t spare that much time, feel free to attend just part of the workshop.

We are hoping to assemble some suggested background reading here. As a start:

Please book via the Eventbrite page at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-climate-plan-for-barnet-tickets-152394424827 . The Zoom link will be sent to those people who have registered. There are also more details of the timetable on that page.

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Event Meeting Notice

January 2021 Meeting — 2021: Climate Talks – Local Actions

Tuesday, January 12, 2021
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM online

Please register on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2021-climate-talks-local-actions-tickets-133987631613.

Despite the pandemic, climate and energy headlines dominate the news. We look at the pathway to COP26 and the role of local actors.

In November 2021 the UK will host the international climate negotiations for the first time. The UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP) 26 will be held in Glasgow from November 1-12. Details of the event are set out on the official conference webpage at ukCOP26.org

Leading up to the COP, the Government will be making some significant decisions on the future of energy policy in the UK. Recent weeks have seen the publication of the Energy White Paper and the Committee on Climate Change’s advice to Government on the Sixth Carbon Budget (which covers the years 2033 – 2037). The coming year will see a number of new strategies published which will impact on the way we live our lives. From heating our homes (Heat and Buildings Strategy), to the way we travel (a Transport Decarbonisation Plan), to our green spaces (a Trees Strategy) and even what we eat (a National Food Strategy).

BCAG’s January 2021 meeting will highlight some of the key discussions and decisions leading to the COP event, and importantly, how new policy outputs from Government will work their way into local decision-making – into our homes and neighbourhoods – and what opportunities we have to influence these decisions.

We are delighted to have as a guest speaker for this event Kirsty Hamilton. Kirsty has three decades of international experience in tackling and leading efforts on climate change and accelerating the energy transition and has been an Observer in the UNFCCC process since the early 1990s. She is currently seconded in to advise the COP26 Energy Transition team on private investment and ‘investment confidence’ for governments.

Since returning to the UK in early 2000s she has focused on bridging between leading energy finance practitioners and senior policy counterparts on clean energy outcomes originally setting up an initiative through an affiliation with Chatham House in 2004. She went on to establish the Low Carbon Finance Group (2010-2015), founded by senior financiers, heading its factual policy engagement throughout the electricity market reform process. Advisory work has included Specialist Advisor to a UK Parliamentary Inquiry into Financing Energy Infrastructure and a senior policy advisor to a leading energy storage investor. Kirsty’s ‘Finance Guide for Policymakers’ BNEF, Chatham House, UNEP-FS can be downloaded here.

Zoom link: to be provided via registration.

This event will be held online: please register on Eventbrite using the link above.

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Event Meeting Notice

November 2020 Meeting — Electric Vehicles in London’s suburbs

Thursday, November 19, 2020
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM online

Please register on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/evs-and-outer-london-decarbonising-transport-in-the-suburbs-tickets-128651687661.

How can we successful implement Electric Vehicle (EV) strategies in London’s suburbs?

Part of London Climate Action Week https://www.londonclimateactionweek.org/

14- 20 November 2020 #LCAW2020 #EVsOuterLondon

As London boroughs begin to implement actions to accelerate the take up of electric vehicles in their climate emergency plans – join us to explore what key issues challenges and opportunities will London’s outer boroughs face

London is seeing a slow but steady shift to the electrification of transport. The past year has seen more than 1,000 new charge points installed at petrol stations, in town centres and retrofitted into street lighting columns. More than 2,000 electric black cabs are now on London’s streets and Transport for London runs Europe’s largest electric bus fleet.

While mode shift is key to cleaning London’s air, reducing congestion, vehicle related injuries and greenhouse gas emissions, there will ultimately still be some essential vehicles on the road. These vehicles need to be zero emission. Electric vehicles in particular, will play a key role in London’s green recovery post-pandemic. They produce zero tailpipe emissions, are quiet and has and can create new jobs in battery manufacturing across the UK.

London is some way ahead of the rest of the country when it comes to charging infrastructure, with 28.8 charging points per 100 electric cars (compared to the national average of 12.5). Wandsworth is the London borough with the highest availability of chargers, with 34 per 100 electric vehicles however Outer London boroughs have the fewest charging points, with Harrow having the least with just 14. This works out as 1.7 per 100 electric vehicles. However, more of Outer London’s households have off-street parking, and home charging should be a more viable option. Also only 40 per cent of inner London households having access to a car, compared to 70 per cent in Outer London.

On average, car owners drive slightly more than six kilometres on a typical day, but those living in Outer London travel, on average, nearly 2km further per day (close to 7km) than those from inner London (5km per day).

More information on TfL and EVs

London EV Infrastructure Delivery Plan (PDF)

DfT Decarbonising transport: setting the challenge

This event will be held online: please register on Eventbrite using the link above.

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Event Meeting Notice

October 2020 Meeting — Barnet’s Waste Policies

A presentation and discussion around London Borough of Barnet’s existing and future waste policies

Thursday, October 15, 2020 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM online

October’s BCAG meeting will explore opportunities to reduce the environmental and climate impacts of waste streams in the London Borough of Barnet, including waste avoidance and minimisation, re-use, recycling, composting and the use of waste streams to generate energy.

**A full agenda will be available shortly. Following registration a zoom link will be forwarded nearer the time of the event.**

Please register on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/barnet-climate-action-group-barnets-future-waste-tickets-123674023333.

A list of policies and information notes from Barnet Council on their waste programmes follows below.

We hope to see you on the night!

Barnet is one of seven London local authorities making up the North London Waste Authority (NLWA).

Barnet council’s waste policies are set out in this 2018 information note: Barnet Council Household recycling and waste policies

Further information is provided in the Barnet Reduction and Recycling Plan (September 2019)

The council’s key programmes and progress against them is set out in Barnet’s Environment Delivery Plan (published in March 2020) – the previous year’s report can be seen here.

Charging for garden waste collections (a report in this policy can be seen in the following Environment Committee paper from January 2020)

Barnet webpages also exist for the following:

Barnet Council suspended brown bin food waste services in November 2018

A note on reducing food waste

Waste collection in flats