The Stubborn Optimist: A Quaker Climate Scientist
Dec
2

The Stubborn Optimist: A Quaker Climate Scientist

Internationally respected climate scientist and Quaker Emma Woolliams will talk at Kingston Quaker Centre about her work.  
 
Despite her work at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington measuring the true scale of the climate emergency facing Earth - one of her current projects involves detailing the speed with which Greenland’s ice sheet is melting - Emma describes herself as a ‘stubborn optimist’.
 
"The oceans are rising, acidifying and warming, the ice is melting, weather patterns are changing. It can be quite frightening but I remain a stubborn optimist. I am  - like most of us - fully aware of the scale of the challenge, but I believe humanity can rise to it.” Emma cites positive tipping points such as the recent closure of the UK’s last coal-fired power station as an encouraging example.
 
Emma’s talk - titled The Stubborn Optimist:  A Quaker Climate Scientist - will detail her work which involves understanding the observations satellites make of the Earth’s climate system to obtain reliable long-term trends of different climate variables including sea ice thickness, land surface temperatures, sea level rise and the Earth’s energy imbalance.
 
Emma will also explain how her Quaker faith helps in her work, giving her a sense of perspective and hope alongside her understanding of the scale of the climate emergency facing the world.
 
“I believe that Quaker religious practices and stories, and our testimonies to simplicity, peace, equality and truth, provide an essential perspective as society undergoes necessary transitions to build a sustainable future”, comments Emma.

Doors open at 6.30

Free Entry and cake

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World Car Free Day 2024
Sept
22

World Car Free Day 2024

Key Activities on World Car Free Day:

  • Community Bike Rides and Walks: Organised in various cities to encourage people to explore their local areas without the use of cars.

  • Educational Workshops: Sessions on the environmental impact of car emissions and the benefits of sustainable transport options.

  • Public Transport Promotions: Partnerships with transit agencies to offer free or discounted rides, making public transit more accessible and appealing.

  • Social Media Campaigns: Engaging content and challenges to raise awareness and inspire action, using hashtags like #WorldCarFreeDay and #GoGreenCommute.

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Zero Waste Week
Sept
2
to 6 Sept

Zero Waste Week

READY TO REDUCE YOUR WASTE?

#ZeroWasteWeek is an award-winning, grassroots annual awareness campaign that takes place online and on-the-ground.
It helps householders, businesses, organisations, schools, universities
and community groups reduce landfill waste so you can
save money, preserve resources and protect the environment.

Helping you save money, protect the environment and preserve resources since 2008.

Join us today and be part of the solution!

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Tree Canopy Open Day
Jun
27

Tree Canopy Open Day

Come along to the Tree Canopy Open Day at Home Farm Allotment.

Teams from Walton Charity Green Spaces, Rewilding Forest School, Surrey Tree Wardens and Guided Wellbeing will be at eh events hosting various activities.

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What's Stopping Us Stop Climate Change – Next Stage
Jun
12

What's Stopping Us Stop Climate Change – Next Stage

The Institute for Sustainability and the Surrey Climate Commission are working together to develop plans for the What’s Stopping Us Stopping Climate Change workshop at the University of Surrey on 12 June.  
PLEASE HOLD THE DATE.
We are looking forward to hosting this event with the Institute and will share details with you nearer to the time. The workshop follows on from the very successful event in the autumn (see 
here for the highlights and full videos).

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Bike Week: 10-16 June 2024
Jun
10
to 16 Jun

Bike Week: 10-16 June 2024

Bike Week 2023, celebrated workplace cycling, and the response was overwhelming. More than 220 businesses and organisations across the country took part, with events involving over 7,500. 
    Bike Week 2024 promises to be even bigger and better. The focus is on workplace cycling –
See here  for updates.

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