Cornwall’s voluntary and community sector is stepping up its response to the dual emergencies. Known for its work on social justice, every sort of poverty, housing, sport, homelessness, physical and mental health, education, abuse, indoor and outdoor learning, disability and access and every other issue of importance to any civilised society, it has hoped that the powers that be had their sights on dealing with the already unravelling climate and ecological crisis.

They didn”t.

Up to now we rarely have found time or headspace – as all that work above gets more and more demanding – to figure out how we address the biggest challenge our species has ever faced. Yet we know that we are already affected, as organisations (extreme weather disruption, increasing energy costs, food supply disruption and cost increases) and as the communities we support. And we know good change comes from bottom up. We need to reduce our contribution to the problem, and build up our ability to cope with its impacts on us. So Volunteer Cornwall (check out its climate action page here) is working with its partners, including Voluntary Sector Forum, and is investing time into cranking up our action:  let’s get cracking…