With the slogan “Working Together; Saving Tomorrow Today”, it seems as though there is plenty of optimism and a will to achieve. However, recent COP meetings, in Copenhagen and Cancun, were felt by some to have failed to deliver lasting commitments from countries to decrease their greenhouse gas emissions.

Here’s an update from the UKYCC delegation in Durban on Monday 5 December:

“It’s the first day of the second week and the pressure’s started to build. This is the make or break week for the negotiations and I’ll be  honest – I’m afraid it’s going to be break time. There are some really important issues on the table – the one a lot of people are talking
about is the Kyoto Protocol. It’s the only legally binding treaty we have to reduce carbon emissions but it runs out in 2012. If we want to have emissions reduction targets (which we do), then we need action now.  The KP (as it’s called) only applies to developed countries. The US never signed up to it (they just don’t like playing fair or acknowledging that they’re part of the world) and now Canada is actively trying to kill it so it can sell highly polluting tar sand oil to every other country in the world for maximum profits. Japan and Russia are being lame too.

It’s not often I’m proud to be British but the EU, and the UK within it, are doing their best to keep it alive – I’m 100% of the way behind them. Say it loud and say it proud: ‘I heart KP!

Other important issues are having a broader mandate for a universal treaty that will cover both developed and developing countries come out of Durban. That, and money. Always with the money! But the UNFCCC want to create a Green Climate Fund to manage the money that will support mitigation and adaptation to climate change. The big question is, who’s going to take care of the money and where’s it going to come from?

For a more in-depth insight, check out the second UKYCC hand puppet video. If talking hands can’t explain what’s going on, nothing can!”

Websites to keep up to date with progress of the talks:

• http://adoptanegotiator.org/ – A blogging platform which tracks the progress of the negotiations day by day
• un.ukycc.org - the website of the UK Youth Climate Coalition, who have a delegation at the conference
• http://www.cop17-cmp7durban.com/index.html – the main website of the conference; useful for full background information.

There were live cooking demonstrations and plenty of other activities to get stuck into, all of which involved enjoying delicious food rather than throwing it away. Feeding the 5,000 invited citizens and businesses to all join in a pledge to reduce food waste. For more information please check this website http://www.feeding5k.org , or you can find it on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Feeding5k/141410032625501) and Twitter (Twitter @Feeding5k).

Tom Hunt was the chef at the event who took on the huge task of feeding everyone (http://www.tomsfeast.com). Check out his food blog here: http://www.tomsfeast.com/blog/

With speakers who have innovative ideas and creative solutions to the challenges intergenerational justice poses for topics such as climate change and sustainability, democracy, law, and economics, its certain to be a fascinating afternoon. For more information including how to book tickets, see HERE

The event is part of a global network of independently organised TED events.

But what of LETS and Timebanks, and the emergence of the UK Transition Currencies such as the Brixton and Lewes Pound? How can we organise currences for Dalston and other communities in Hackney and London?

There was an opportunity to find out with Michael Linton, leading world expert in community currencies, what the future looks like for the money we make ourselves.

This event was organised by Les Moore, of Common Resource

It was the first edition of the fair which builds on the 18 year history of the former Camden Green Fair. Several thousand people came to learn about living a a greener life in London.

On Sunday, the LCRN tent was packed with families sheltering from the rain. Our recycling workshop was a victim of its own success as we ran out of paper, LEDs and chargers, but we spent a great time chatting with children and parents eager to know more about sustainable theatre and clean energy. Our new intern Stéphane Verlet-Bottéro provided some drawings for how to construct the mood lamps, and we hope that many people were able to carry this out at home.

Check out a blog post made on the 10:10 website about our event! Click here.

Bring what you don’t want and take what you do! 

What can you give? Baby equipment, books, toys, children’s bikes, kitchenware, paint (reusable), plants, garden tools and equipment and even small electrical goods and furniture (side tables, shelves, cots etc).  

What can you take? Anything you need.  And you don’t have to give to take but please do try!

Please do not give clothes, hazardous or toxic items or second hand child car seats.

This one day e-conference is the first of its kind.  SustainabilityAV 2010 will be hosted by Installation Europe (IE) and Pro Sound News Europe (PSNE) taking place on Wednesday 10 November.  Here you will be exposed to pivotal forms of sustainability within the pro-audio and video sectors along with presentations geared by SustainabilityAV’s mission of “Environmental sense makes business sense.”  Professionals will have the opportunity to learn about how to run businesses in a “greener” way, save on costs while better managing budgets, and enhance marketing of green objectives/ethics and business practices.  This event will consist of six conference sessions followed by interactive lectures by international speakers who are innovating this market.  What a wonderful contribution for those in the arts who are implementing sustainability!  If you are interested in getting involved or simply want to learn more about his event click here.

Click here to read about what PLATFORM and Arnolfini are doing this season to help fight climate change.  3 October – 29 November, 2009: discussions, courses, installations and more. www.arnolfini.org.uk

We would welcome any donations to help our garden grow – including seeds, pots, plants, watering cans, compost and soil… please feel free to drop them off at the theatre any time. We are also looking for volunteers to help maintain the garden, so please contacts us if you are interested in getting involved. Just think, doing a bit of gardening, on top of a theatre, in a green space in the sun…

Pictures from Green Sundays on the roof

Why a roof garden?

Green roofs alleviate the urban heat island effect, created by cement and concrete absorbing the suns rays and heating up an urban space. In the summer, Central London can be 9 degrees hotter than surrounding areas. Green spaces within urban areas not only provide spaces where the public can escape from the hustle and bustle of city living but it also means that for those without gardens, it’s a communal space to enjoy the peace and quiet a green space can provide.The UK lags behind countries like Germany in the construction of green roofs but we are slowly catching up… by building a green space on the roof of a theatre we hope to communicate the advantages of having a roof garden to a wide range of community members. We also hope to encourage other London theatres to do the same.

Re-use, recycle, reduce…

We will be using recycled materials in the garden – including tyres, wood, second hand wheel barrows and reclaimed bricks.

Come and get involved in growing!