York Environment Forum

The February meeting of York Environment Forum is deliberating about whether we have enough people to form a team to organise a programme for a 2023 York Environnment Week. We need at least six people who have sufficient time to make this happen. There is a also a range of skills required, covering marketing, publicity, administration, social media campaigns, updating the website, and so on.

In the three Weeks, held in 2020, 2021, and 2022 we have gathered a great deal of information about the programmes and events. The reports each year provide feedback from the event organisers and an overview of the weeks themselves.

The other topics in the February meeitng of YEF include a new vision for transport in York, and the next draft of the Local Plan which will soon be open for public consultation.

Each meeting takes place on the second Tuesday of each month, starting at 4pm. At the moment we are alternating in person meetings and Zoom held remotely. February is in person at West Offices on Station Rise, on 14th.

The York Envoronment Forum meeting on Tuesday 10th January is about Transport. We are meeting on Zoom and will discuss how to be more effective in 2023 when there will be the local council election in May and in York, for instance, there is less cycling and fewer passenger journeys on buses. There are opportunities for members to become more involved on behalf of YEF.

In the Initiatives section of this website the latest post is a summary of the YEF response to the planning application to alter the Outer Ring Road. This is one recent example of how we take members’ views to compile a collective statement on current environmental issues.

What will COP27 achieve for Climate Justice? What will we find out about how far countries have delivered on their promises made at COP26 in Glasgow last year? There is an official website to find out the lastest news. https://cop27.eg/#/. And there is local action including coach travel to the Global Action on Climate Change event at Sheffield on 12th November. York Environment Forum is tackling climate justice on Tuesday at our November meeting.

No shortage of events to choose from at YEW22. There are more than 30 listed on the website. Topics include warm homes, making new by repairing and recycling, exploring and maintaining green spaces, film show, cycle ride and environmental and eco fairs. All are free to attend, and a few need booking.

Details are listed online here. Not everyone is digitally connected. Please lend a hand to neighbours and relatives who are not digitally connected so as they can take part in events.

The flyer below shows the crucial social media details for YEW22. Please share and retweet if you can.

The third York Environment Week starts on 24th September. There are more than twenty events in this year’s programme. The host organistions want to inspire residents to take part and help create a safer and greener future. Topics of events include family bike ride, launch of new gardens, eco-homes, eco and environmental fairs, re-cycling, upcycling and many more. There is no charge to attend any event. Most are in-person this year.

The details of each event is on the listing page of York Environment Week.

YEW22 highlights the power we have to make a difference for the planet when we work together.

Have you joined in yet? The Big Conversation is how City of York Council publicises major issues and seeks feedback about proposed solutions. There is an extra meeting of York Environment Forum in July so as we can discuss the climate change section of the Big Conversation and work out a collective response.

This is part of the explanation quoted from the website. City of York Council has ‘set an ambition for our operations to be carbon neutral by 2030, This is a city-wide ambition that required a city-wide strategy. The York Climate Change Strategy will be a shared strategy for the city, encouraging us all to work together to deliver our shared vision.’

No need to go to a meeting. Individuals can fill in an online form, and there are paper copies for residents who do not do digital. The closing date is 5th August. The homepage of the website below is the place to start – at the foot of page.

https://www.york.gov.uk/

Now is the time to submit an event for YEW22 which takes place from 24th September to 2nd October. Our call for events is going far and wide. You can find the guidelines and submission form by following this link https://yorkenvironmentweek.org.uk/host-an-event/

There is no charge for including an event. The whole programme is advertised to reach a large number of local residents. York Environment Week promotes working towards a cleaner and green city and world. A member of York Environment Forum invented York Environment Week, and we are now in its third year.

Ideas for events so far include: environment centre fair, homegrown produce show, Creationtide programme, film show and open eco-homes., and room for many more.

Too late for Clean Air Day which was in June 2022. This month’s York Environment Forum’s meeting is about air quality in York. We have Mike Southcombe, Public Protection Manager for City of York Council. We will find out relevant facts about changes in pollution levels, what the main challenges are and what action can be taken to improve the situation.

Our meeting is on Tuesday 12th July 4 to 6pm at West Offices. There is a great deal of local information about air quality on this link. https://www.york.gov.uk/pollution/clean-air-day

The illustration is encouraging car drivers to switch off their engines when not moving.

Just a few days to go before the call is out for submission of events in to York Environment Week22. We have another meeting open to anyone planning an event.

Please join us on Thursday 7th July, in the Denham Room at Priory Street Centre, YO1 6ET, 7.15 – 9.00. Free admission, refreshments served.

The plan for the evening is to hear about ideas so far, plot on a calendar dates and times arranged, and completing any partnerships and collaborations. Finally the Core Group will answer any practical questions about submitting an event, publicity, evaluation and monitoring. Looking forward to getting together again.,

To book a place please use this link to our eventbrite page. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/373894176547/

Global and local this month. We have a presentation on Climate Change, impact on women, solutions by and for women and their communities. This is based on Emily Beasley’s research at the University of York. The perspective is international, for example using examples of women from indiginous cultures, and draws on philosophy as a guide for analysis.

Followed by a report on the recent hearing sessions on the Local Plan. The next phase of hearings is in July and we are going to decide York Environment Forum’s approach to the topics to be tackled then.

This meeting is for members of YEF, and takes place on Tuesday 14th June, 4 – 6pm at West Offices, Station rise.