Why we need to act

In October/November 2019, Umbrella undertook a process of re-setting at the Umbrella Pavilion, taking us back to our original purpose of delivering environmental and community projects. Following a series of open meetings with our local community we re-balanced these commitments, giving the environment equal status alongside our community work. At this time, we also began to explore the Climate Emergency Centre (CEC) model for the Pavilion space. It became apparent that even in the form we were delivering in 2019, we were delivering on many aspects of the embryonic CEC movement through our Cafe, Cycle-Recycle, wellbeing and events programmes.

The CEC model focuses on local level responses to the climate crisis, the crisis is not just an environmental issue, it impacts all of us. Those who it will affect the most are those who already experience injustice in their lives - predominantly those in the global south but also those most disadvantaged in our communities. Umbrella has been, and always will be, committed to environmental and social justice.

“Create your own community of liberation. from this moment on, direct your most concerted efforts, your best work, and your greatest feats of imagination toward creating the impossible community. and do so precisely where you are, with those around you.”

- John P. Clark

What is a climate emergency centre?

The CEC movement describe a CEC as ‘a community space to meet, plan, educate, train and adapt to the Climate Crisis.’

What makes a CEC?

  1. It has a solutions focus- for people and planet

  2. It is local and inclusive- focused on meeting community needs

  3. It is an active part of a wider network- for mutual support and cooperation

The Umbrella team understands that to respond to the Climate Crisis we need to meet, plan educate and train but we do not accept that there is an option for ‘adapting’ to the climate crisis, we have gone beyond that point. We know this as the scientists are unequivocal about this:

‘We must act now to minimise the worst impacts of the climate crisis’ (IPCC - Report here)

What does this mean? By not dealing with the climate crisis in the past 50 years, continuing with our heavy carbon lifestyles our generation is committed to having to deal with the consequences of this behaviour. There is no way out of this, all we can do is to work towards a response now to reduce the ‘worst impacts’.

Why a “Climate Emergency Action Hub”?

Whilst a part of a loose network of Climate Emergency Centre (CEC’s) Umbrella has taken a specific focus for Northampton on going beyond being purely a centre for information. We are committed to de-mystifying the way people can engage in self-organising and take action in non-dominating and non-violent ways, one that is driven by cooperation. Co-operation has been an underpinning value of the Umbrella since it was established.

It is time to act. The Climate science is irrefutable. It is telling us that we need to act urgently. How Umbrella is interpreting this need for urgent action is to create a space and environment which will tell the truth about the situation and then provide options, support and encouragement for local people to take action, locally and nationally.

Social Justice and Environmental Justice

Whilst we are responding to the climate crisis, we do not want to perpetuate the injustices that created the crisis. We strive for equality and acknowledge and challenge ourselves in that bringing this to fruition requires us to prioritise equity over equality. By equity we mean that no group or individual should have less power or fewer benefits or rights than any other group/individual who engages, whether these are determined by race, gender, age, ability, religion, or any other qualifying trait. It is within this context that we will develop our local CEAH.

The magnitude of the piece of work is beyond challenging because of pre-existing inequalities, but we know it must be attempted.