This event is brought to you by Community Energy London.
This year the UK will host the UN Climate Change Conference COP 26 and a key message coming from the UK’s Committee on Climate Change is very simply that “it will not be possible to get close to meeting a Net Zero target without engaging with people….” [Committee on Climate Change’s recent Sixth Carbon Budget report](December 2020)
The London Borough of Islington has been a leading local authority supporting action on climate and energy for many years now, and established a community energy programme in 2017 to support local projects designed and delivered by local groups(see details here). Community involvement remains a key area of the of the council’s recently published Net Zero Carbon plan.
LB Islington and Community Energy London have teamed-up to explore this question and the role of community energy in addressing it.
AGENDA
5-6pm Thursday 18 March 2021 (zoom details accessed via registration)
Welcome: Syed Ahmed, Chair, Community Energy London @CommEnergyLDN
Islington and Community Energy Cllr Rowena Champion, Executive Member for Environment & Transport, Islington Council @RowChampion @IslingtonEnergy
Community Action in a Climate Emergency - Elaine Trimble, Community Energy London @CommEnergyLDN @Lainey_Trimble
Community Energy in Action - Tanuja Pandit, Power Up North London (PUNL) @PowerUpNLdn
New voices on community energy Elaine Trimble, Cally Energy @Lainey_Trimble
Further speakers to be announced
Speaker and Organisation Profiles
Councillor Champion is the Executive Member for Environment and Transport and also represents the Barnsbury Ward in Islington. Cllr Champion sits on the review panel for the Islington Community Energy Fund, which helps fund community groups across the borough to implement carbon and energy saving projects. To date, around 140 tonnes of CO2 are being saved each year by projects funded through the Community Energy Fund.
Elaine Trimble comes from a background in urban planning, economics and technology, and has lived near to Caledonian Road for 15 years. Elaine has been working with Community Energy London to study the 29 London boroughs who have signed climate emergency declarations to examine how community groups and councils are working together to reduce emissions, encourage energy efficiency take up, green spaces and encourage public transport and cycling.
Power Up North London (PUNL) is a non-profit community enterprise that enables local people to tackle climate change by delivering carbon reduction projects. PUNL’s projects typically reduce running costs for site owners while supporting the local economy and giving local people a stake in their environment. PUNL’s vision is to contribute to North London boroughs becoming net zero carbon by 2030 underpinned by a resilient, independent and collaborative community of residents harnessing clean energy.
Tanuja Pandit is committed to the community energy sector and serves on the Board of Power Up North London. She is a long-term Islington resident and has had a long career in the commercial and non-profit sectors (including Ford, General Electric and the BBC) and has also led the International Business Leaders Forum. Tanuja was COO of the Start Network, a collective of 40 humanitarian organisations.
Cally Energy is a newly set up Community Interest Company looking to develop residential scale solar projects in Islington. Cally Energy, and plans to install residential scale solar PV on both sides of Caledonian Road. Cally’s aim is to engage more residents in the energy transition, foster community cohesion and empower young people through: information, action, technology, training and most importantly opportunity.
