The Lincoln Climate Commission: Creating Place-based Community Engagement and Policy Impact in Greater Lincolnshire
In response to the UK and local governments declaring a climate emergency (including Lincoln City Council in July 2019), public, private and third sector organisations across the city of Lincoln have established a Lincoln Climate Commission. Co-founded by the University of Lincoln, Transition Lincoln and Lincoln City Council, and formally established in September 2020, the Commission serves as an independent advisory body and includes representation from the public, private and community sectors in Lincolnshire. The Commission provides a strategic forum for setting and championing Greater Lincoln(shire)’s transition to a zero carbon and climate resilient future by developing partnerships throughout Greater Lincolnshire and acting as an intermediary between a range of key stakeholders and associated groups in tackling climate change. Members of university staff have been integral in positioning the Commission as a member of the ESRC-funded UK Place-based Climate Action Network, a consortium of city and regional climate commissions from around the UK. The current Chair of the LCC, Councillor Ric Metcalfe (Leader of Lincoln City Council) said, “The City Council has declared a climate emergency and is committed to working with our community, the Lincoln Climate Commission and local businesses to deliver an ambitious net zero carbon target by 2030.” This shows willingness on the part of Lincoln City Council, to work through consensus-based engagement in tackling the climate issues Greater Lincolnshire faces.
The Covid-19 pandemic delayed the delivery of Lincoln Climate Commission engagement events, which were key in getting the ‘climate message’ out to local communities. As a result, the Commission delivery group worked behind the scenes voluntarily, appointing Commissioners, applying for external funds, and developing the terms of reference, structures and governance of the Commission, with the direct input of local public, private and third sector bodies, in a consensus-based way. This has given the Commission a strong governance platform from which to immediately involve local communities in many local decisions related to climate change. As co-founder and one of the current Commissioners, Geoff Stratford, stated: “Acting swiftly is what matters. The latest evidence proves the urgency to reduce emissions. Every action we can take counts, but government must take radical measures to allow citizens to achieve what we want. Insulate homes. No new fossil fuels.”
Now, three years later, the Commission is at a critical stage in its development as it aims to stimulate more timely and increased place-based community engagement, and significant policy impact. An important aspect of this engagement work has been to develop the 2030 Lincoln Climate Action Plan (LCAP). Due to be completed and published by the end of summer 2022, this document had the explicit intention of being a Lincoln Climate Commission-owned document, rather than a Lincoln City Council-owned document, given one of the Commission’s main remits is to harness the collective energy, vision and ambition of key stakeholders across Lincoln and Lincolnshire in a consensus-based way, to deliver a step-change in its response to the climate emergency. The 2030 LCAP provides an impactful evidence base to inform local, regional and national policy making to address the climate emergency. Lincoln can also play a significant role in supporting UK climate change commitments for the Paris Agreement. The 2030 LCAP has been produced as a collaborative approach with input from a variety of subject disciplines from the University of Lincoln, Government bodies, Lincolnshire local authorities, and strategic partners from the private sector.
Additionally, to assist us in developing the 2030 LCAP, a team of academics and professional staff from the University of Lincoln have worked alongside the City of Lincoln Climate Manager, Kate Bell and applied to the QR Strategic Priorities Fund for £25k to produce a complete set of community engagement tools and materials for improved communication, information dissemination and collaboration with the public. This will lead to extensive public consultation over Summer of 2022 where the Commission will produce a consensus-based framework of actions and holding a range of climate conversations with members of the community, to align public policies, research and investment to deliver a net zero carbon and resilient transition for Greater Lincolnshire. The LCAP is intended as an accessible approach to community engagement and help to communicate national and local climate policy and actions to the wider community.
The QR Strategic Priorities Fund has also supported the high impact project, ‘Project Fashion Fixed’ over the past few months. Working with the support and guidance of Kerry Gibson, a team of students from Fashion, Film, Media, Graphics, Photography, Geography and Creative Writing came together to deliver project fashion fixed in Lincoln between March and May 2022. Kerry Gibson led four workshops covering the social and environmental implications of the fashion industry, from consumerism to waste, recycling and reuse of materials. Using the students’ skills, knowledge and creativity they were asked to develop their own projects focused on raising awareness of the environmental challenges presented by the fashion industry and what we can all do as consumers to address these challenges. The students work included a film of project fashion fixed, posters, poetry, music and dance and was showcased at the University of Lincoln, Lincoln Cornhill, and the Central Library. The project culminated in a full day and evening project fashion fixed event on the 2nd of May at the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre.
The impact of the QR funding has been significant in terms of what it has allowed us to achieve. We have been able to create an engaging plan that can communicate the vision of the Lincoln Climate Commission to our Community. The hope is that this will open up dialogue and facilitate feedback from Lincoln residents and stakeholders.
Volunteer time continues to drive the work of the Lincoln Climate Commission, via in-kind contributions and the passion and commitment of Commission members. Receiving external funding has enabled the production of professional climate communications and production of material and allows for a complete and recognisable brand for our work.
The Commission is grateful for the support it has received from the QR Strategic Policy Fund and once published, we invite all to view the new 2030 LCAP and share comments to ensure climate ambition remains alive and well in the City of Lincoln, both with local council policymakers, and more importantly the communities which it serves.
More Information:
Dr. Andrew Kythreotis (Department of Geography, University of Lincoln) (PI)
Dr. Theresa Mercer (Department of Geography, University of Lincoln) (CI)
Prof. Edward Hanna (Department of Geography, University of Lincoln) (CI)
Rebecca Forster (Estates, University of Lincoln) (CI)
Alexandra Foxley-Johnson (Estates, University of Lincoln) (CI)
Kate Bell (Lincoln City Council) (CI)