Get Involved
It’s not going to be enough to make changes in our own lives. We need to persuade governments to take action, locally, nationally and globally.
Here are five things you can do to make your voice count…
1. Join a campaign group
First, find the thing that really bugs you. Then see if there’s a local group campaigning and taking action on that issue.
Here are some suggestions…
We are affiliated to Friends of the Earth who run Climate Action groups all over the country.
Like Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace is a national group with local branches, tackling environmental issues from pollution to habitat loss and plastic waste.
Islington Environmental Emergency Alliance is an umbrella group of organisations and individuals working with the council to combat climate change.
Islington Climate Centre is a hub for local community groups and residents wanting to address the impact of climate change on the borough.
XR Islington is the local branch of a global protest movement calling for urgent climate action by governments.
Living Streets campaigns for ‘better’ walking, travelling on public transport - and less car use, and it has an Islington branch.
Cycle Islington campaigns for safer streets and improved cycle routes.
Fossil-free Islington has persuaded the Council to divest its pension fund from investments in fossil fuels and continues to campaign for ‘green’ improvements in the borough.
The Islington branch of Clean Air Parents campaigns against our borough’s high air pollution levels and for safe, car-free travel to and from schools.
2. Find out what Islington council is up to and join in (or protest!)
In 2019 Islington declared a climate emergency and has committed to the ambitious target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions in the borough to net zero by 2030. It will need help from all of us to achieve this target. You can take action here by following the council’s activities, attending meetings and contacting councillors.
The council website has tons of information about waste disposal, energy, housing and climate action. The councillor responsible for Environment and Transport is Rowena Champion - click the link to send her an email.
In Highbury our locally elected representatives are our councillors:
Highbury Councillors
Benali Hamdache: Benali.Hamdache@islington.gov.uk
Ernestas Jegorovas-Armstrong: Ernestas.Jegorovas-Armstrong@islington.gov.uk
Caroline Russell: Caroline.Russell@islington.gov.uk
Islington Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee
The Islington Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee is the bit of the council chasing up green actions. It meets once a month to oversee matters relating to the environment, including sustainability and traffic issues. Members of the public are free to attend.
Look on the Meetings section of the council website to find dates. Questions must be submitted in advance. If you want to get in touch with this committee, contact Ola Adeoye: Olayiwola.Adeoye@islington.gov.uk or 0207 527 3044.
3. Put your money to work
You can move your bank account to an ethical bank, invest money (even small amounts) in businesses trying to make the world more sustainable, or try to ensure your pension is invested in ethical funds. Ethical investing works in two ways:
you invest only in companies who behave in a socially responsible manner
you use your power as a shareholder to influence corporate behaviour – by going to shareholder meetings and making your views known, for example
There are many organisations that claim to support sustainable development, and offer savings accounts and mortgages.
For example, Triodos and the Co-operative Bank for banking, and building societies such as the Ecology Building Society.
The Shared Interest Foundation claims it ‘changes lives by breaking the cycle of poverty through the creation of resilient businesses’ by pooling investors’ funds and uses them to provide loans and credit facilities to primarily fair-trade enterprises.
These are just some examples, and it’s important you do thorough research and consult suitable regulated advisors for financial, investment, tax or legal advice to inform any decisions.
4. Learn more - become an expert
There are lots of courses around, on all sorts of things from ecology and conservation to insulation or permaculture. Let Google be your guide!
For instance, check out the Centre for Alternative Technology, which runs courses at many levels on everything from eco-refurbishment to building a working guitar from upcycled materials.
A great source of information on all these issues is Ethical Consumer. Subscribe for full reports on their campaigns and product comparisons.
5. Vote for the climate
Whenever an election comes along – local, national, union, allotment society – find out where the candidates stand on the climate issues you care most about, go to meetings, ask them questions – and use your vote accordingly.
And remember, you have a right to ask your MP what action they’re taking.
To find out how various parliamentarians have voted on different issues, check out They Work for You
