Our story
As a volunteer-run residents' group, Climate Action - West Northamptonshire (CA-WN) has three aims: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; to improve biodiversity; and to build community resilience to the effects of a changing climate.
We are trying to work with local authorities to help organisations reduce their carbon footprint across the county, as well as researching and sharing best practices from other parishes which have already created wildlife areas to encourage their local authority to take further actions that could improve local biodiversity.
Community building is an important part of our work and CA-WN organises and hosts a range of activities, including a regular virtual (online) CA-WN 'climate café' offering a safe space to talk about thoughts, concerns or questions related to climate change; annual Apple Days, offering a full programme of creative and educational community events; open sessions covering topics from recycling to local food growing; and exchanges with local councillors to learn more about climate action.
Our advice
As a forum for action in West Northamptonshire, CA-WN engages stakeholders at different levels – by lobbying government, by collaborating with like-minded groups and by taking every opportunity for public engagement. This multi-tiered approach helps in building resilience, from the small things to bigger systemic challenges.
Our Changeprint
Our Changeprint can be measured by estimated reduction in carbon emissions attributable to all our activities; number of community events and participants engaged – e.g. Apple Days, climate cafés, and workshops; local biodiversity counts and number of biodiversity projects supported or inspired; number of partnerships or collaborations with local authorities and community groups – indicating our influence and reach; sustainable actions adopted by local organisations/households as a result of CA-WN’s guidance and advocacy.
