The Futures Forum blog is alive and well - as the Vision Group's news pages

Exactly six months ago, the Futures Forum of the Vision Group stopped producing blog pieces:
Futures Forum: All good things must come to an end: thank you and goodbye from the Futures Forum blog

Meanwhile, however, the Vision Group's own news pages have been covering pretty much the same key aspects of life in the Sid Valley and issues around the Transition Town movement:



Recent News - Vision Group for Sidmouth

And of course, the FF site continues to provide an archive - storing information from April 2013 to May 2019 - which can be accessed through the search panel and the labels on the right >>>
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"So you’ve declared a Climate Emergency, now what?" > Exeter University > Thursday 23rd May

A 'Climate Emergency' has been declared - by the County Council and by central government:
Futures Forum: Climate change > County Council declares 'climate emergency' but fails to commit to becoming carbon neutral by 2030

On Tuesday, Extinction Rebellion will be meeting:
Futures Forum: Climate Emergency > What could government be doing? > talk and discussion with Exeter Extinction Rebellion > Tuesday 21st May

And on Thursday, Transition Exeter and the University will also be considering where to go next:

So you’ve declared a Climate Emergency, now what?

Thursday 23 May 2019, 6.00 - 9.00 pm

Alumni Auditorium, The Forum, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4SZ

Both Devon County Council and the UK Parliament have declared a Climate Emergency. Transition Exeter has partnered with the Exeter University's Global Systems Institute to run a free public event:  Now what?  

The panel will include Youth Striker Sophie Sleeman, climate scientist Richard Betts, newly elected Exeter Green councillor Diana Moore and Alice Mosely speaking on Citizens Assemblies.  

Book your place now, and bring questions and comments to the meeting on Thursday 

Transition Exeter - Home | Facebook 

With more on the Eventbrite site:

So you’ve declared a Climate Emergency, now what?

Date: Thursday 23 May 2019

Time: 18.00 - 20.00

Venue: Alumni Auditorium, The Forum, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4SZ

Video link: Exchange Lecture Theatre, Penryn Campus

This public event is hosted by the University of Exeter Global Systems Institute in Partnership with Transition Exeter and Exeter Community Energy.

Event Information

On 1 May 2019 UK MPs approved a motion to declare an environment and climate emergency.

More than 60 towns and cities across the UK have already declared "a climate emergency" including Devon and Cornwall County Councils.

Last month the University of Bristol became the first UK university to make a similar declaration. There is no single definition of what "a climate emergency" means but many local authorities state they want to be carbon-neutral by 2030. This will only be achievable through dramatic cuts in emissions which requires social transformation.

What steps are required to achieve rapid and extensive change?

Deep cuts in emissions will involve far-reaching changes to everyday lives, physical infrastructures, patterns of investment and divestment. How can we ensure such change is rapid and extensive, yet also socially acceptable, fair and leaves no-one behind? Research suggests most people are not willing to voluntarily give up consuming meat and dairy products, driving a car and taking overseas holidays.

Is this likely to change? If so, how? What is the potential for a Citizens Assembly to enable social transformation?

This public meeting will explore these issues with a diverse panel and questions from the audience. Join us for some lively discussion and distraction from the European elections!

Panel members

• Event chair: Patrick Devine-Wright, Professor in Human Geography
• Richard Betts, Chair in Climate Impacts
• Alice Moseley, Lecturer in Politics
• A Fridays for Future (Exeter) representative
• Glenn Woodcock, Exeter City Futures
• Local authority / public sector representative (tbc)

A public event hosted by the Global Systems Institute

The Global Systems Institute is applying Earth system science to generating networked solutions. Our aim is to work with others to secure a flourishing future for humanity as an integral part of a life-sustaining Earth system. We are uniting a trans-disciplinary group of researchers, educators and partners to look beyond single ‘environmental’ issues to a truly systemic view of coupled global changes in the human social and economic sphere and the biosphere.

www.exeter.ac.uk/gsi

Venue

Main venue: Alumni Auditorium, The Forum, Streatham Campus, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4SZ. Building number 3 on the Streatham Campus map.

For Streatham maps and directions, please visit this page.

Video link: Exchange Lecture Theatre, The Exchange, Penryn Campus, TR10 9FE.

For Penryn maps and directions, please visit this page.

Registration

To register for the event please click the 'register' link at the top of this page.

If you have any enquiries regarding the event, please email research-events@exeter.ac.uk

Please note filming, recording and photography may take place at this event.

So you’ve declared a Climate Emergency, now what? Registration, Thu 23 May 2019 at 18:00 | Eventbrite
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Have the public gone bonkers about plastics? Julia Hailes, author of The Green Consumer Guide, to talk in Lyme Regis: Friday 3rd May

Are plastics a bad thing?
Futures Forum: Is 'plastic free' a stretch too far?... There are clever ways to use and deal with plastic waste.
Futures Forum: Plastic: can you live without it?
Futures Forum: "Plastic's bad reputation is not always borne out by the facts. Just because a brown cardboard box looks greener than plastic, that doesn't mean it is."

A veteran campaigner and writer is speaking next week on the issues: should be interesting: 

HAVE THE PUBLIC GONE BONKERS ABOUT PLASTICS?


Friday, 3rd May      
Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis, Dorset      
7.00 – 8.45pm
Tickets £8 (concessions available)  Book online

Julia Hailes MBE  will give a very thought-provoking talk.   

Pictures of turtles with straws up their nostrils and an albatross chick regurgitating a toothbrush have been key in galvanising public attention to the very real problem of ocean plastics. 

So, you may be surprised to hear that plastics are often the best environmental option, in particular by saving energy and tackling climate change. 

Julia Hailes is a sustainability pioneer with over 30 years in the green sector. She’s a campaigner, writer, speaker and consultant, who has written nine environmental books, including The Green Consumer Guide, which sold over 1 million copies. 

She will talk about how humans have become the most wasteful species on the planet and what we should be doing about it. Some of her conclusions may surprise you.


Plastic Pollution  Turn Lyme Green |
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Ctrl Shift - An Emergency Summit for Change > 8th - 10th May

An interesting event coming up next month:

We at Transition Network are proud to be involved in CTRLshift, we believe that Transition is a key part of the jigsaw to creating a new and better UK, be great to see you there. CTRLshift seeks to catalyse a network of change-making organisations, networks, and independent practitioners, creating a movement for positive social, economic and environmental change. We are developing a shared agenda to shift power over our democracy, economy and environment to people and communities across Britain. CTRLshift: An Emergency Summit for Change 2 will take place this year in Stoke on Trent over 8-10 May 2019. We are developing a shared agenda to shift power over our democracy, economy and environment to people and communities across Britain. Join change makers from across economy, land, social justice and environmental sectors for the second annual summit. CTRLshift collaborators include Permaculture Association, Shared Assets, Transition Network, Happy Museums, Totnes Reconomy Project, The Alternative UK, Democracy Collaborative, Co-operatives UK, Shared Futures CIC, Preston Cooperative Development Network, Schumacher Institute, Ethical Consumer, Middleport Environment Charity, Losing Control, United Diversity, Stir to Action, CLES and Counter Coin. Over the two days of the event, the programme will include: 1.  Solutions Sessions – workshops sharing latest work and practice across sectors from our partners and other collaborators in the event. 2. Thematic Sessions –  exploring key themes within groups (Economy, Environment, Democracy) leading to facilitated sessions that explore deeper collaboration – using Stoke as a context and example to test our ideas and ground them in the reality of a real place. What would it look like if we put it all together in Stoke? With groups from Stoke. 3. Networking & Co-Working Sessions – time to foster new connections and cross sector collaboration – day 1 more organised; day 2, self-organised 4. Strategy Sessions – Where next for CTRLshift – invitation to get involved, funding, plans for events, working groups, how to get involved as partner, linking to parallel initiatives. Lets get the whole system in the room. National Organisations £125 + booking fee Regional & Grassroots Organisations £100 + booking fee Subsidised Local Community Enterprises £80 + booking fee Limited Bursary Places available 8-10 May 2019 Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire Find out more and how to book here: http://www.ctrlshiftsummit.org.uk

Copyright © 2019 TRNUK, All rights reserved.

CTRLshift – An Emergency Summit for Change
CTRLshift2019: Shaping our future together (@CTRLshiftSummit) on Twitter
CTRLshift Summit 2019 public group | Facebook
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Will the 'Future Places' programme for Greater Exeter "enhance people’s lives, improve community wellbeing and create sustainable environments"?

Exeter is facing huge expansion:
Futures Forum: How to sell the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan and its 2,661 new homes a year > offer a 20,000-capacity sports stadium

It's all about housing:
Futures Forum: What's wrong with the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan > "Huge housing growth does not appear to correlate with very modest job growth."

We won't know exactly how much, though, until after the elections in May:
Futures Forum: How much housing and industrial development will happen in East Devon under the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan? >>> We will only know after the upcoming District Council elections in May

We do know that this will impact on East Devon:
Futures Forum: East Devon is taking a disproportionate share of development >>> “Because we have the land and we are good at it”
Futures Forum: A new East Devon local plan will have to implement the strategy set out in the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan by 2023

Especially on those places immediately adjacent to the city:
Futures Forum: Save Clyst St Mary > "Village Life -vs- Future Development"

This is because East Devon is now de facto part of something called 'Greater Exeter':
Futures Forum: The Greater Exeter Strategic Plan and 57,000 new houses

The VGS news pages have been keeping an eye on the wonderful things happening to the city itself:
Liveable Exeter “highlights the property crisis while trying to solve transport challenges”
A better connected, more ‘liveable’ Exeter
Exeter Vision 2020: ‘sustainable development’?

It seems the same wonderful things are going to happen to the conurbation: 

Future Place

The Future Place programme run by the Royal Institute of British Architects(RIBA), Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), Local Government Association(LGA), Homes England and Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) - is a joint, two-phase initiative which will unlock place-making potential at local level through quality in design, future thinking, and knowledge sharing. The programme has been designed to promote best practice and the potential of innovative delivery, design and funding models, cross-sector collaborations capacity building, and knowledge sharing at a local level.

Greater Exeter

By 2040 Greater Exeter wants to be recognised as a global leader in sustainable living and one of the most active, healthy and accessible cities in England

Future place | architecture.com
Future Place Greater Exeter | architecture.com 

It's made quite a story:
Five English regions get expert support for place making | News | Architects Journal
Exeter recognised for ambition and vision to create a great place for the future | The Exeter Daily
Five places win professional body recognition for quality plan-led placemaking | Planning Resource

Looking at the project, there are questions, however:

> Will 'knowledge sharing' actually involve speaking to the already-existing populations? 
Futures Forum: District Council to consider government's latest forecast for minimum number of new homes to be built in East Devon > "Planning for the future will ensure we are not subject to the whims of others."

> How will 'need' be measured?
Futures Forum: Future housing needs and requirements in East Devon

> Will mistakes over bad design for other large-scale projects be taken into account?
Futures Forum: An ever-expanding Cranbrook: "There are significant issues to resolve around how services and facilities are to be provided in the town in the future and how these are to be paid for."

> Will being 'recognised as a global leader in sustainable living' mean doing more than just contributing to the traffic gridlock?
Futures Forum: Exeter is now the slowest city in the UK
Futures Forum: Gridlocked Devon >>> 'Devon Live' to debate "some of the major travel problems facing the county." >>> and to investigate "the attitude of local authorities to sustainable travel and highlight some of Devon's pollution hotspots"

> Let alone properly contributing to quality of life?
Futures Forum: Air pollution, traffic congestion and development >>> Building a new shopping centre to the west of Exeter "would cause traffic chaos"

> Will independent thinking be taken on board - in order to 'enhance people’s lives, improve community wellbeing and create sustainable environments'?
Futures Forum: "What would a zero carbon city look like?" > Transition Exeter: talk and discussion: Friday 1st March

And as East Devon is 'part of' Greater Exeter, the District Council feels it can pat itself on the back, as this press release from today shows: 

'Future Places' recognition for East Devon

When this content has been created

14 March 2019

'Future Places' recognition for East Devon

East Devon, as part of Greater Exeter, has been recognised as one of only five 'Future Places' to support future development of the area.

The Greater Exeter area has been recognised as one of five places in England that has the vision and ambition to create great places for the future.

Greater Exeter was named as part of the Future Place programme.  This initiative is intended to unlock placemaking potential through quality in design, future thinking and knowledge sharing. 

The area will receive training and expert advice in helping to develop the Liveable Exeter Vision, which will see 12,000 new homes built within the city between 2020 and 2040, as well as supporting the wider programme of development across the Greater Exeter area.

The prestigious initiative is run by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), Local Government Association (LGA) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

The capacity building programme is based on three pillars: promotion, expert advice and training.  The initiative will support the Greater Exeter partnership – made up of Exeter City Council, East Devon District Council, Mid Devon District Council and Teignbridge District Council, supported by Devon County Council – in helping to develop the vision for the future development of the area. 

As a joined up area, Greater Exeter has a population of 480,000 people. By 2040 it wants to be recognised as a global leader in sustainable living and one of the most active, healthy and accessible cities in England. 

In its announcement, RIBA said: “All five Future Places are determined to deliver meaningful change which will enhance people’s lives, improve community wellbeing and create sustainable environments. While each place is very different, they all work in collaboration with public, private or voluntary sector partners to develop and advance innovative placemaking strategies.”

The five ‘Future Places’ selected are:

• Bradford
• Greater Exeter
• Great Yarmouth
• Gateshead
• North Northamptonshire

Cllr Ian Thomas, Leader of East Devon District Council said:

This is great news both for East Devon and for our partners in the Greater Exeter area.  The support available through the Future Places  programme will help us not only to develop our ambitious vision for the future but also ensure that this is delivered on the ground, helping to create the high quality places that all our residents can enjoy in the future.

Exeter City Council Leader Pete Edwards, said:

This is great news for Exeter and the Greater Exeter area and will help us raise the standard of design quality and deliver a transformational housing programme across the city. 

Cllr Jeremy Christophers, Leader of Teignbridge District Council, said:

This is fantastic news for Teignbridge and its partners within the Greater Exeter area. We have a strong track record of working together for the good of our area by providing the homes they need so communities remain sustainable in the future. 

Tristan Peat, Forward Planning Team Leader, Mid Devon District Council, said:

This announcement is fantastic news and will help the Exeter, Teignbridge, Mid Devon and East Devon councils work together to help achieve better outcomes for everyone across the Greater Exeter area.

Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said:

This is good timing as we have just come to the end of our consultation on the Exeter Transport Strategy, which has ‘greater places for people’ as one of its three key themes. This means thinking about how walking, cycling and attractive urban public transport will support the vitality of the city and enable people to lead more healthy and fulfilling lives. I’m sure this programme will help us develop these ideas further in the context of growth for the city.

RIBA President Ben Derbyshire, said:

Local Authorities play a vital role in creating happy, healthy and sustainable communities, and I am pleased to support their initiative, investing in public engagement and collaborative planning to design the best possible environments. The commitment, despite financial and political barriers, is highly commendable, and I look forward to working with all five over the next phase of the programme, learning the lessons as they develop their vision to and celebrating their success.

The RIBA is allocating a RIBA Client Adviser (all of them RIBA Chartered Architects) to help each selected area develop their vision.

14 March 2019 - 'Future Places' recognition for East Devon - East Devon
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Bridport Green Fortnight > "Food, Farming and the Future" > 9th - 22nd March

An interesting set of events and activities are happening next month in Bridport, Dorset:

What's On - Transition Town Bridport - www.TransitionTownBridport.co.uk
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"What would a zero carbon city look like?" > Transition Exeter: talk and discussion: Friday 1st March

There are big plans for Exeter as reported in the news section of the VGS website these last weeks:
Liveable Exeter “highlights the property crisis while trying to solve transport challenges”
Exeter Transport Strategy > consultation now open
Exeter: portrait of a city published: “educated, sustainable, unaffordable”
A better connected, more ‘liveable’ Exeter
Exeter Vision 2020: ‘sustainable development’?
East Exeter gets a £1.3m cycle bridge

Transition Exeter looks at these - in the context of a 'zero-carbon city': 

What would a zero carbon city look like?

In this newsletter we're excited to let you know about next Friday's talk with Natalie Bennett on 'What would a zero carbon city look like?'  And just in time for when our Green Councillor Chris Musgrave brings a Climate Emergency Motion to Exeter City Council.  Devon County Council faces a similar motion on Feb 21st - still time to write to your councillor. DCC is also consulting on its new Transport Plan, a crucial influence on our city -  use the link at the the bottom to have your say.  Details of this and more below. Look out for next Friday's talk and discussion, co-hosted with University of Exeter's Global Systems Institute What would a Zero Carbon City Look Like  with Natalie Bennett Friday 1st March 6 pm  University of Exeter, Henderson Lecture Theatre, XFi Building   Natalie attended the COP24 Climate talks in Poland last December and discusses what cities can do and are doing to move to zero carbon solutions for homes, travel and more Further details https://www.facebook.com/events/393721694694818/?active_tab=about

Devon Transport Plan Consultation Devon County Council is asking people what they would like to see Exeter's future transport system look like. In the last few years Exeter has grown fast, and the distance commuters travel has also increased. But we can't fit more cars on to our existing road network, air pollution is above safe levels on many of the main roads and the provision for sustainable transport is patchy. On the postive side, there are signs that people's travel habits are beginning to change, and the proposed new strategy aims to build on that.  The Transition Exeter Transport Group have been discussing the draft strategy and we think there are lots of encouraging points - a shift to people-centred design, a focus on active and sustainable travel, a high quality cycle network, more frequent bus servies between Exeter and nearby towns, a simpler, integrated ticketing system and others. But the document doesn't go into much detail and it completely misses out climate change and any mention of the needs to cut carbon emissions! It's important that the council hear what we would like Exeter's streets to be like in future - please take a look at the proposal and send in your views. You can find the consultation here  https://new.devon.gov.uk/haveyoursay/consultations/the-exeter-transport-strategy/ .  There is an online survey to send your response - it's simple to complete and only takes a few minutes. You don't need to be an Exeter resident to respond - everyone who travels in Exeter for any reason should make sure  their voice is heard. You've got until 28 February to respond. Alternatively, you can send your comments by post or email to the following Post: Transport Planning, AB2 Lucombe House, County Hall, Exeter, EX2 4QD Email: transportplanning@devon.gov.uk @TTExeter  01647 24789

Copyright © 2017 Transition Exeter, All rights reserved.

What would a zero carbon city look like?
Transition Exeter
Transition Exeter - Home | Facebook
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