Climate action groups Zero Carbon Dorset, Dorset Climate Action Network (Dorset CAN) and Sustainable Dorset have joined forces to launch the first community-led Dorset COP in Dorchester.

The event will take place on Saturday 9 September at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester, with the aim of spurring the local community into urgent action to combat the threats posed by climate change and ecological collapse.

The conference will be opened by Laura Baldwin, environmental campaigner and former Olympian, who said: “This event is not only ground-breaking but also of huge importance – not just for Dorset but for community activists everywhere. That’s why it hopes to attract people and organisations from right across the county.”

COP-2023 hopes to attract people and organisations from all over Dorset, will feature a series of keynote speakers, workshops and panel discussions, and will close with a declaration of intent similar to those issued at the international COPs.

Giles Watts, a coordinator with Dorset Climate Action Network, said: “This ground-breaking, community-led event is an attempt to apply the power of the international COPs to local issues and so galvanise Dorset into faster action to tackle the climate and ecological emergency.”

Chair of Sustainable Dorset, Jenny Morisetti, said: “This event, a first in the UK we believe, will be Dorset’s very own opportunity for the community to network and have its say on climate and ecological issues. It will raise the power and reach of Dorset-based organisations by fostering collaboration, supporting the spread of vital information, and helping organisations to act locally in a way that puts people at the heart of decisions.”

Co-founder of Zero Carbon Dorset, Mark Chivers, said: “While Dorset is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, from rising sea levels to the loss of local species unable to cope with the rising temperatures, globally others are already suffering the consequences of climate change; losing their livelihoods, homes and even lives. But by raising awareness of the urgent need to act locally and demonstrate the depth of community commitment to tackling the crises we aim to secure action from all stakeholders and spur both Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Councils to take the lead suggested by the government’s own Climate Change Committee.”