meeting reports

Report of AGM and Public Meeting 16 October 2025

The notes below cover both the 2025 AGM and the October public meeting, which consisted of an open discussion about CA-WN’s current activities and future plans, with attendees invited to suggest new ideas. The meeting was recorded and is available to view on CA-WN’s YouTube channel. 💡Check out

nature

Climate Drama: 21 November

BIOSPHERE is a drama exploring the current storm of the climate crisis, capitalism, and technology. Inspired by the true story of experimental living trapped within an enclosed biome intended to provide the essentials for human life, this is a new play about our relationship to nature, technology and the planet

local matters

Happy Birthday CA-WN

As we celebrate CA-WN’s birthday these are highlights from our first four years. ROOTS: South Northamptonshire Action on Climate [SNAC] Before CA-WN there was SNAC, formed in 2019 when residents from across the area came together to talk about the climate emergency. Convinced of the urgency to do more

individual impact

Reducing the environmental impact of Children’s Parties

This article was written by Joely Martin, currently on Maternity Leave from West Northamptonshire Council where she works as a Sustainability Officer. As a parent, it’s an exciting new chapter when your child starts primary school. New skills, new friends and before long, parties almost every weekend. Now imagine

council

Council Watch October 2025 - how are the new brooms doing?

Nearly half a year ago a new administration took charge at West Northamptonshire Council. In the days after the May election many people voiced concerns about the new Reform leadership - no local manifesto, lack of experience of local government, potentially reluctant councillors who stood as ‘paper candidates’. A more

bookshelf

2071: The World We’ll Leave Our Grandchildren by Chris Rapley & Duncan Macmillan

This book (originally a play) is a remarkable achievement – it condenses the complex and difficult topic of climate change into 200 easy to follow pages, many of which contain only one paragraph. It was written just before the landmark 2015 COP in Paris but its content remains pertinent to today’

nature

What is a Local Nature Recovery Strategy?

Local nature recovery strategies are being developed in 48 regions across the UK in response to both the global 30% Nature recovery by 2030 targets as part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework1 and the UK’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan2. Local Nature Recovery Strategies are based on

podcastshelf

Rethink: should we stop flying?; how can flying be less polluting?

Plans for a second runway at Gatwick airport have recently been given the green light. This follows approval of expansion plans for Luton airport, and positive signals from the government about the long-discussed third runway at Heathrow earlier this year. Gatwick expects annual flights to increase from 280,000 to

council

Youth speaking truth to power: Speech to WNC Scrutiny Committee, 19 August 2025

This speech was given to a 'Call-In Hearing' of the council's Place and Resources Overview and Scrutiny committee by Pippa Knowles, aged 17. The purpose of the meeting was to review a decision made by WNC's Cabinet to remove the council's Net

net zero

Net Zero Stocktake 2025

The Net Zero Stocktake 2025 assessed progress in setting and strengthening whole-economy net zero targets and evaluated more than 4,000 entities on whether current plans and strategies contain the key components for deep decarbonisation. The world must reach net zero carbon dioxide emissions in the early 2050s if it

meeting reports

Public Meeting 18 September 2025

This meeting was intended to provide an opportunity for an open discussion of CA-WN’s purpose and future focus. With a number of apologies and relatively low attendance, it didn’t quite go to plan! However we did enjoy a wide-ranging and informative conversation. Our next meeting on Thursday 16

opinion

My View - Who scrutinises the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero?

This article was written by Mike Reader, MP for Northampton South, who will also be the guest speaker at our September 2025 meeting Scrutinising the department for energy security and net zero Delivering the Clean Energy Mission and reaching net zero is critical for the UK. At the heart of

food & farming

Becoming a Vegan

Mick Lorkins, CA-WN Steering Group member and founder of Northamptonshire Woodland Community Volunteers, shares his account of going vegan.  I thought I would document my journey on becoming vegan as it is not quite like switching on and off a lightbulb, it is more of an exploration. The starting point

Bankers’ backlash

The backlash against climate action continues as UBS1 follows other banks in quitting the UN-sponsored Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA)2.  The NZBA recognises that banks can play a major role in enabling the transition to a net-zero emissions economy by providing financing solutions. The banks in the Alliance are following

opinion

The 89 Percent Project

According to recent science as many as 89% of the world’s people want governments to take stronger action on climate, a fact not reflected in the media, which might explain why the 89% don’t know that they are the global majority. The 89 Percent Project, launched in April

council

Muck spreading season

The ground is being prepared for what is to come, on our fields and in our Council Chambers, and in all our lives. Here’s what was sprayed in a discussion on abandoning the Council’s Net Zero pledges: Extremists Communists Anti-capitalists Lunatics Brown rice and sandals brigade Those who

nature

Pesticides and your pet

This article was originally produced as a leaflet by Leicester Friends of the Earth, who have kindly allowed CA-WN to reproduce it. Do you own a pet? Do you use tick, flea, lice and worm treatments? Are you worried about your pet getting poisoned? If so, please read on. Tick,

podcastshelf

The Energy Transition Show - Electric Farming in New Zealand

This podcast episode features an interview with Mike Casey, a Kiwi tech entrepreneur turned cherry farmer. He started by gradually converting his farm to run on electricity, much of which is generated on site. In terms of electric machinery he’s a true early adopter, importing New Zealand’s first

bookshelf

Disasterology by Dr Samantha Montano

Dr Montano calls herself a Disasterologist to get across what she does better than the traditional title of Emergency Manager. The book details her journey from a naive teenager who set out to help with the recovery of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to an academic who points out that

individual impact

Carbon Literacy Training September 2025

Following the great success of our previous Carbon Literacy training courses, we're looking forward to offering the next 4-week course starting 2nd September 2025. After completing the equivalent of one day's worth of training and committing to carbon-reducing actions, you will be deemed Carbon Literate and

water

Great UK WaterBlitz 2025

Last year we wrote a piece1 suggesting you might like to take part in the Great UK WaterBlitz. This is a fantastic initiative that enables us all to do something positive about the shocking condition of many bodies of water in the UK, by using a simple free kit to

council

Net Zero

Net Zero, like its friend ULEZ, has become a rallying cry, a flag up a political flagpole. But the noise of it flapping in the wind cannot drown out the fact that Net Zero and ULEZ are our true friends. And if Net Zero and ULEZ are ultimately good for

meeting reports

Report of public meeting 17 July 2025

July's guest speaker was Ruth Rolls, WNC Nature Recovery Strategy Officer. Ruth gave us an excellent overview of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for West Northamptonshire. The meeting was recorded and is available to watch on YouTube1, and Ruth's slides are available to download2. On Saturday

council

Council Watch - 2025 Climate Action Scorecards

Council Climate Action Scorecards are produced by Climate Emergency UK – the latest scorecards were released in June based on data from 1 January 2020 up to 31 October 2024 (for most questions). There are 73 questions in total across 7 categories. There’s a careful methodology behind the scorecards, and

podcastshelf

Strong Message Here: The New Brexit

Net Zero is getting a lot of attention recently, possibly even becoming that most cliched thing, a political football. This podcast, presented by Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci, explores the ‘use and abuse of language in politics’. It’s both entertaining and insightful, and this particular episode focuses on Net