WI Hosts Climate Change Conference
The National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI), the largest women’s organisation in the UK, will celebrate the past three years of sustainability and climate change projects across the Women’s Institute network at its 90@90 closing conference this week.
The 90@90 project covers a range of individual lifestyle changes through various projects including: EcoTeams, lift-sharing, home composting and local food sourcing.
Speakers at the conference on Wednesday 5 March will include Joan Ruddock MP, Minister for Climate Change, Rosie Boycott, journalist and author, and George Marshall, author and activist. There will also be a screening of the WI’s climate change film, “A World Without Jam” and the Climate Outreach Information Network will hold climate change communication workshops in the afternoon.
The 90@90 project, which was part-funded by Defra’s Environmental Action Fund, promoted sustainable consumption among WI members and their communities through a variety of projects targeting food, the home and transport.
During the first year of the 90@90 project, WI members participated in a national consultation, examining how our communities have changed over the past 90 years. The results formed the basis for the 90@90: The impact of the past 90 years of consumer behaviour report, which was published in September 2005.
The report showcased members’ views on how our consumption over the past 90 years has brought our planet to the brink of a natural resources and climate change crisis. It also presented members’ ideas on what individuals, organisations, industry and government can do to get us back on track towards a more sustainable future.
In response to the 90@90 report, the WI developed a range of projects to help members learn more about climate change, reduce their impact on the planet and live in a more environmentally friendly way.
Fay Mansell, chair of the NFWI, said “Over the past three years WI members have dedicated a great deal of time and effort to educating themselves and their communities about climate change and the importance of living a sustainable lifestyle. Through our collective action we have demonstrated how individual efforts together make a big difference. Today we are celebrating the achievements of the 90@90 project.”
The conference takes place at 24 Tufton Street, Westminster, from 11am-4pm. Joan Ruddock MP will speak at 12:30pm.
The conference is open only to WI members. Journalists must register to attend.
- ENDS -
For further information please contact Shirin Aguiar-Holloway at the National Federation of Women’s Institutes on 020 371 9300 ext. 208.
Notes to editors:
1. The WI is the largest women’s organisation in the UK with 205,000 members in 6,800 WIs. The charity campaigns on issues that matter to women and their communities from children’s diet and human trafficking to healthy eating and the environment. Visit www.thewi.org.uk for more information.
2. In the past, the NFWI has campaigned on issues such as oil pollution, GM food and renewable energy and has voted to launch a campaign to protect the environment. The NFWI is a founding member of the Fairtrade Foundation and a member of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, and is involved in Make Poverty History.