ENVIRONMENTAL TEAM 25/26

Environmental Programme for 2025/26.

In the year 2024/25 the club formed its first ever environmental project team. A small number of Rotarians were seconded to the team that meet as and when required.

This was the first year that our club has had an environmental team. Although we have always considered the environment we had not, up until then, had an environmental team or performed club environmental projects.

The short term plan for 2024/25 was to –

1. Ensure that the environment is considered when our club teams conduct their own projects. This will not be the environment police but instead a soundboard for ideas and options to reduce the environmental impact where practicable.

2. Conduct at least one club environmental project per year.

The long term goal is that the club conducts its business with due regard to the environment and with the lowest possible release of carbon into the atmosphere. That the club has a programme that helps the environment and offsets any released carbon. Making the club eventually carbon neutral.

During 2024/25 our efforts were primarily focussed at an Ascent College, off campus site within Lyme & Wood Country Park. We held a number of events at the location and with the help of a district grant we were able to complete a number of environmental projects growing food and providing for animals. These were meaningful projects that led to efficiency and carbon savings.

The team also has an advocacy side which opposed an application made to the Environment Agency within our green belt. We also made observations & recommendations during a public consultation on the placement of a rail freight terminal locally.

The team’s strategic goal is “the capture of carbon, prevention of the release of greenhouse gasses and to help curb global temperature increases”.

For 2025/26 our objectives in order to focus on obtaining our strategic goal are:-

1. Start a new environmental project within Lyme & Wood Country Park working with the Friends of Lyme and Wood. (Not the college)

2. Maintain relations with Ascent College and continue to help them on their small holding with environmental matters as the campus expands.

3. Support local organisations with carbon offset/ capture schemes.

4.Identify and support an international project which specifically seeks to offset or capture carbon.

5. Offer the opportunity to individual members to calculate their own carbon footprint via their energy bills and annual mileage. This personal data will help them with their own offsetting initiatives.

Protecting the environment is one of Rotary International's seven “causes”. This is also topical and attracts much media and public interest. This will be used for our own publicity, with the intention of increasing membership by bringing in new members who are keen to help the environment in their own locality. This in turn should attract a new demographic and help reduce the average age of the club member.

Rotarian Craig Roberts

Club Environmental Officer (C.E.O.)

2025/26