Politicians and climate experts highlight fourth Dorset COP Dorset people will have a chance to put questions direct to local politicians and experts on climate change and nature loss at a special BBC Question Time-style panel focusing on leadership in climate action as the climax to this year’s fourth Dorset COP on Saturday 14th November,
Dorset council and BCP leaders Nick Ireland and Mille Earl will be joined by Dorset MPs Edward Morello (LibDem, West Dorset), Lloyd Hatton (Lab, South Dorset) and Simon Hoare (Cons, North Dorset) answering questions from members of a 200 strong audience at Kingston Maurward Coastland College near Dorchester.
Also on the panel are independent climate experts General Richard Nugee, a leading contributor to the headline-making National Emergency Briefing last November in Westminster, Olympian Laura Baldwin, who sits on the World Olympians Association’s environment committee and is an international ambassador for sustainability in sport, and Big Oil whistleblower Caroline (Caz) Dennett, who also founded Don’t Pay for Dirty Water, a campaign supporting people to take action against their polluting water company.
This year’s fourth COP - Dorset’s equivalent of the international COPs or ‘Conference of the Parties’ - is on Saturday 14 November and is being organised by Dorset Climate Action Network (DCAN) in collaboration with Coastland College at their Kingston Maurward campus.
The day-long event, focusing on ‘How to make an impact for climate and nature’, is taking place at the same time as the latest UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Turkey from 9-20 November that’s expected to make increasingly urgent calls for action from global leaders.
Dorset COP 26 will include workshops, talks, clinics, seminars and networking events during the day - details of which are still being finalised - as well as the Question Time afternoon highlight.
For the first time this year, the Saturday event will be preceded by a special Youth COP on Friday (13 Nov) aimed at pupils from local schools.
Opening the first event in 2023, TV environmentalist Chris Packham called Dorset COP ‘a brilliant idea’ (https://dorsetcop.info/chris-packham-message) and asked attendees to ‘demand’ action of our political leaders.
‘Since last year’s event we’ve seen more climate records broken with severe flooding last winter and terrible wildfires across the UK and Europe in the longest sustained hot dry period since records began,’ said DCAN chair Giles Watts.
‘The case for reducing carbon emissions has never been stronger to tackle material threats to food supply, the economy and national security. Yet, despite some encouraging initiatives, we have seen little of the required urgency from our leaders. ‘Three years on, we’re hoping this year’s Dorset COP will give added weight to Chris Packham’s call to action and help provide local groups with the skills and support they need to make a difference in their own communities.’
Principal and CEO of Coastland College Kate Wills said: ‘We’re delighted to be hosting the fourth Dorset COP at our Kingston Maurward Campus, bringing together students, staff, community organisations, businesses, environmental experts and political leaders to discuss one of the defining challenges of our time.
‘Our Kingston Maurward Campus provides an inspiring setting for these conversations surrounded as it is by the natural environment that so many of our students study, work in and care for.
‘The introduction of a dedicated Youth COP is particularly significant as it recognises that young people are not simply the leaders of tomorrow but active contributors today. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Kingston Maurward this November for what promises to be an inspiring and thought-provoking event.’
For more information on Dorset COP 26 and to book tickets, go to: https://dorsetcop.info/