Whilst COP28 takes place from Thursday 30 November until 12 December in Dubai, local people are to have the chance to find out what is planned locally by joining Dorset COP’s online discussion on 7 December.

In September this year Dorset COP saw over 250 people and 100 businesses and organisations come together in Dorchester, hoping to tackle the climate and ecological crises on a local level. With talk of the return of a second Dorset COP next year, pledges made by attendees are now going public on the Dorset COP website. These pledges will also act as a beacon of inspiration for those who are yet to make their pledge, offering guidance and examples of how others are making the swap to a more sustainable way of living.

Giles Watts, a coordinator with Dorset Climate Action Network, one of the organisations behind Dorset COP, said: “The main aim of the Dorset COP was to inspire change in our community and encourage local action, and it was great to see so many people making their own pledges to act for our county.

“These pledges are a key part of the COP that we hope will have a far-reaching impact and long-lasting value. We will be following up on these pledges throughout the year and encouraging others to make their own pledge if not done so already. Let’s make this year count for our county.”

Attendees at the COP were also offered an opportunity to provide feedback on its ‘Dorchester Declaration’ which was a set of commitments to address the climate change and ecological crises and a commitment to act, advocate, and lobby for action across the county.

Dr Neil Smith and Mark Chivers of Zero Carbon Dorset (ZCD) will be using the upcoming COP28 to encourage further discussion around what we can be doing on a county level in Dorset. A COP discussion will be hosted online on the 7 December at 7:30pm looking at how Dorset can support goals put forward by the United Nations and those highlighted by the county COP.

Mark Chivers said: “The Dorset COP event was just the beginning, now is when the real hard work comes into play, and we must all hold ourselves accountable to the commitment we made in Dorchester to be the change we wish to see in our county. We’re looking forward to hosting this online discussion and hearing what the community has to say, we’re hoping it will help to continue to fuel the fire ignited by the county COP.”

New pledges can be made, and individuals are still encouraged to add their signatures to the Dorchester Declaration at https://dorsetcop.info/

You can sign up for the online discussion on: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82685695865?pwd=eHYvdjlGZVEwdGdIQW4xNElEVi83dz09