Greenprint Steering Group Meeting Minutes Greenprint Steering Group Meeting Q3

Location: 

Date: Tuesday 30 July 2024

Time: 

Invited: 

In attendance in person: Betsy Reid, Chris Ryde, Daniel Wareing, Jason Alexander (guest), Luke Bennett, Reuben Hey, Sally Noble, Susan Harvey

In attendance via zoom: Jane Healey (Chair), Laurence Moss, Reuben Hey

Apologies: Paul Mackie

Agenda

  1. Introduction
  2. Plastic Action Proposals presented by Jason Alexander of Rubbish Walks
  3. VOTE TO ALLOCATE £1500 TO PA FISHING FESTIVAL
  4. Climate Anxiety

1. Introduction

We have come under budget and so have approx. £9k leftover to spend. This will predominantly go towards continued work on Plastic Action.

2. Plastic Action Proposals presented by Jason Alexander of Rubbish Walks.

1. Drop-in sessions for Plastic Action Champions

(There have been over 70 recruits, approx. half of which have been trained).

(These sessions would occur once a month and discuss any issues that have arisen)

2. Restart Plastic Action Champion training sessions.

(When these were previously running there was no particular structure).

(Suggestion of alternating months and locations for these sessions).

3. Development of Plastic Action Roadshow

(Collection of activities and worksheets aimed at all ages).

4. Development of Plastic Action Roadshow for schools.

(Similar structure to the above. Can take place in primaries and/or secondaries).

(Thoughts of an investigator/police/law angle on littering with a case to solve).

5. Mini Plastic Fishing Festival.

(Take place from August 19th -24th, at the litter museum).

(Involve workshops, a plastic shoal display, and plastic boat display).

6. Create regular monthly content to share with the public.

(Current ideas include: JAN [Get Plastic Fit]; FEB [Plastic Free Lunch]; MAR [Plastic Free Easter]; APR [Plastic in Oceans]; MAY [Plastic Free Picnic]; JUN [Throw Away Fashion]; JUL [Plastic Free July]; AUG [Plastic Free Bathroom]; OCT [Halloween]).

7. Holiday Home Plastic Action Champion Code of Conduct.

(Suffolk remains home to many holiday properties, yet visiting individuals appear to have high rate of incorrect waste disposal).

(Proposal is to have simple info explaining the Do’s and Don’ts for recycling and waste removal within these properties).

8. Virtual Information Presentations.

(Existing ideas include: PAC Welcome video [to save 30mins of repeated presentation]; Littered Suffolk; What happens to rubbish in Suffolk wheelie bins?; Top 5 misplace items in recycling; What is Greenwashing?; Degradable vs Biodegradable vs Compostable; 10 things to do in Suffolk to reduce litter).

3. VOTE TO ALLOCATE £1500 TO PA FISHING FESTIVAL

Vote rules in favour – MOTION PASSED.

4. Climate Anxiety

Proposal: An event to be hosted with the suggested structure of Expert, Organisation, and Student in attendance to relay what climate anxiety is and how to overcome it.

PhD students: two PhD students from the UEA have been identified in hosting dialogue on this topic in the past. They would be ideal candidates to appeal to a younger demographic.

Challenges

  • A primary demographic affected is that of young people, how would we get them to show up? Noting that the issue is not exclusive to any particular age group.
  • The focus is too wide.

As our primary audience will be members of the wider network of the Greenprint Forum, we are tapping into the interests and connections of many people who are in positions of leadership in their own communities. A focus on what we as groups and communities can do for others in response to the issue of climate anxiety may be the best way to focus in a way that is relevant to the audience.

General comments:

This should be conveyed as a message of hope and outcomes. We don’t want people showing up and being even more depressed by the time they leave.

Action:

DW and RH to develop event plan in liaison with Emily Knock, Jamie Bretton and Amy Duran.

5. Non-agenda item

DW reported that Emily Knock has retired from the Steering Group to work and other commitments.