Reflecting on the Unlock Net Zero Fringe Event at The Clarnico Club
Against the backdrop of COP26 we held our fringe event at the Clarnico Club on the Olympic Park in London, itself a real-life example of sustainability and legacy in action following London 2012.
We used the day to combine our focus on the practical reality of the net zero transition in the UK alongside the major themes of COP itself – collaboration, adaptation, mitigation and finance. With panel sessions on each of these topics alongside a Q&A with Lyn Garner, chief executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation and a walking tour of the Park, our attendees listened and engaged in the debate of how we make this happen.
The day started with the announcement of a new youth engagement programme “Unlock Net Gen” a partnership between Youth Charter, Places for People and Unlock Net Zero. This will create a community for the next generation to share ideas, discuss and collaborate on addressing the challenges that face our climate. We will be listening to them so that we can understand what they want from their future homes, places and communities. Watch this space for more details to come.
Reflecting on the day, I was left with some key takeaways:
- Urgency – action is needed now, we can’t afford to wait and discuss further.
- Collaboration – we need to work and learn together to benefit together
- Engagement – we need to bring people with us on this transition – this is not change for change sake, this is change to improve lives
- Education – people need to understand what the problem and the challenge is, and the role that they can play
- Sustainability – we saw it in action with the venue and the Park itself, and we need to foster more of this vision
Essentially, we all need each other. No one government, no one organisation or no one technology can deliver decarbonisation. We all need to.
Andy Cameron-Smith, editorial lead, Unlock Net Zero
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