Unfurling

We revisit Climate Change, this time exploring how we can draw on our individual and collective strengths in tackling it. We learn from UK- and Kenya-based guests - our “guides” - who span local government, community projects, and global business. They share their journeys; their successes, challenges, and learnings; and what strengths have empowered them, their work, and their worlds.  

• Start: We share what’s drawing us to the topic again, and what we mean by strengths.  
• ~12:15: We join our first guide, our very own Elizabeth Wainwright, who focuses on her experiences as a District Councillor in the UK, and specifically her work leading the climate change portfolio. As well as a Councillor, Elizabeth is a freelance writer, and a coach for individuals and organisations, including Arukah Network; an international charity that she developed. She is a RSA Fellow, and holds degrees in International Development and Biology. She is training to lead hiking groups and offer coaching outdoors. 
• ~46:50: We then move to Kenya and meet Robins Ochieng Odiyo and Nicholas Keter who tell us about the impact of climate change in Kiptere and how they drew on the strengths of the community to realise a reafforestation and water project there. Robins says: “I’m a social change agent, who believes everyone has potential, all we need is opportunity. I work with Arukah Network as a Cluster curator and also volunteer in supporting transformation at the grassroots.” Nicholas is Group Secretary at Kiptere Youth Group. He plans and facilitates community stakeholder meetings, e.g. relating to training people on tree planting and spring protection. These meetings include factories and schools to help reach out to many people in different areas. His work has included planting trees in schools and with a factory.
• ~1:14:30: Returning to the UK, we meet Anna Westall who shares her personal and professional journey into climate action and the strengths she has drawn on. She talks about the place of business in climate action and how her employer, Ørsted, moved away from black energy to become the world’s most sustainable energy company. Anna is part of the European commercial team at Ørsted, the leading developers and producers of offshore wind.  She leverages experience from Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, and of exploring sustainable growth equity with a world-class team of sustainability experts.
• ~1:39:00: We close by drawing together our learning and themes for further reflection. 

If you'd like to explore this and other topics further, you're very welcome to join our private Facebook group, 'Unfurling Podcast'.

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References:

~2: 2021 G7 Summit

~2: UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26)

~3: Reports, e.g. UNEP Making Peace with Nature; UK Climate Change Commission 6th Carbon Budget

~4: Climate Coaches Alliance

~5: “Strength”, Online Etymology Dictionary 

~7: CTI: “Natural Creative, Resourceful, and Whole”

~7: Arukah Network

~8: Cormac Russell re. starting with what’s strong not what’s wrong

~13: Elizabeth Wainwright on LinkedIn or website 

~21: MOE Foundation

~28: Hill & Moorland Leader training 

~50: Robins Ochieng Odiyo and Nicholas Keter 

~1:14: Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”

~1:14: Kiptere.ch Youth Group Facebook page

~1:15: “What happened when we all stopped”, narrated by Jane Goodall, written by Tom Rivett-Carnac

~1:17: Anna Westall

~1:18:  Ørsted

~1:26: Steve Jobs non-linearity quotation

~1:28: Henrik Poulsen

~1:32: Quotation attributed to Henry Ford 

~1:36: Isabella Tree of the Knepp Estate ‘Rewilding’ project

~1:39: Rainforest Action Network

~1:39: Share Action

~1:39: Carbon Tracker Initiative

~1:40: Olga Miller and SmartPurse 

~1:48: Chief Seattle: “Humankind has not woven the web of life - we are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.”