Council to host climate cafe to inspire local eco action

The ‘Climate Hub: Chats for Change’ initiative, which will allow people to share their concerns about climate change and ideas to help tackle it, launches on Wednesday 21 January with a pilot session at St John’s Community Cafe in High View, Hatfield.

Residents are invited to drop in between 10am and 12pm for an informal chat and get tips on how to be more energy efficient, travel more sustainably, enhance local nature, and recycle their waste. Information will be available on climate action being undertaken by the council and community groups within the borough, and how to get involved. Refreshments will be provided.

Following its declaration of a climate emergency in 2019, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council set targets to become net zero as an organisation by 2030 and as a borough by 2050.

A survey carried out by the council in 2023 revealed many residents are concerned about climate change and would like to do more to protect the environment. Chats for Change will provide a place for residents to share their concerns with like-minded people and help each other to live more sustainably. The initiative is particularly designed to target groups who are more vulnerable to periods of extreme heat and other climate impacts, such as elderly people and those with certain medical conditions.

Councillor Max Holloway, Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Economic Development and Climate Change, said:

“Our residents care deeply about our borough’s natural environment, and their local knowledge means they are often best placed to come up with ideas to help protect and preserve it. 

“We hope that by bringing people together for a cuppa and a chat, we can encourage people to share their ideas to tackle the climate emergency and help each other to live more sustainably.”

For more details of upcoming climate cafes, follow our social media channels and visit our events page.