Adapting our homes and communities to a changing climate
When it comes to climate change in our homes and neighbourhoods, much of the focus has so far been on mitigation – reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. But with the impacts of climate change increasingly tangible, how can we adapt our buildings and infrastructure – as well as our culture and lifestyles – to make sure they're resilient?Jen and Matt speak to Chris Carus, co-founder and Executive Officer of Loco Home Retrofit CIC, and Becky McLean, Director of Sustainability at Team Civic. As Chris and Becky explain, adaptation needn't be complicated or expensive – and it can have a huge range of knock-on benefits, too.Links:Team Civic: https://www.team-civic.com/Loco Home Retrofit CIC: https://locohome.coop/Loco Home CIC YouTube video – CASE STUDY Climate Breakdown in Glasgow – Nithsdale Road: https://youtu.be/ovWMJMc0Tp4 Loco Home CIC YouTube video – Warmer, Wetter, Wilder: Adapting our Homes and Neighbourhoods to the Impacts of Climate Change: https://youtu.be/FXwsKbpVkH4The Kelpies: https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/visit/canals/visit-the-forth-clyde-canal/attractions/the-helix-including-the-kelpiesPast Local Zero episodes on related themes: Episode 24: Retrofit for the future: Jobs, skills and training for zero-carbon homesEpisode 69: Whole person, whole place – social relations and energy retrofitEpisode 107: Climate change adaptation – a primer
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56:36
Water scarcity: a growing problem
The UK isn't exactly famous for its dry, sunny weather – and yet, water scarcity is an increasingly widespread and urgent problem. Why? And what are the implications – environmental, economic, and cultural?Jen and Matt explore causes and impacts of water scarcity, with Laura Major, Research Fellow and anthropologist and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, and Ellie Willmott, Principal Hydrologist in the Water Resources Unit at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).Links:Dr Laura Major – staff profileScottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)SEPA water scarcity levels toolTaps Aff project – share your experiences of water scarcityDrouthy Days: is Scotland prepared for drought? – report from the Scottish Parliament Information CentreDecentralised Water Technologies projectSome past Local Zero episodes on related themes: Episode 76: Water, water... everywhere? with Hugo TagholmEpisode 74: How can our gardens protect the environment? with Kate BradburyYou can also find links and transcripts to all past episodes at the Local Zero podcast website.
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Community benefit funds: how can we enhance their impact?
What is good practice for setting up and operating community benefit funds? And how do we make sure communities really do properly benefit from renewable energy (and other) projects? In this episode, Fraser gets the low-down from Matt and Jen on a new framework from the Strathclyde Institute for Sustainable Communities that explores exactly these questions. The framework is called "Guiding Principles and Actions for Enhancing Community Benefits from Community Benefit Funds".Links:Download the framework itself - Guiding Principles and Actions for Enhancing Community Benefits from Community Benefit Funds. Some past Local Zero episodes on connecting themes: Episode 93 – Community benefit funds – what does success look like?Episode 46 – Community benefit from offshore windEpisode 68 – Carbon Offsetting For Communities 2 - Framing, evaluating and facilitating community benefit from nature-based carbon offsets You can also find links and transcripts to all past episodes at the Local Zero podcast website.
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56:03
Climate change adaptation: a primer
Matt and Jen are joined by researcher Dr Emma Yule for a comprehensive primer on climate change adaptation. What is it, and how does it interact with mitigation? What could adaptation look like in practical terms? How do we measure success? What are some of the challenges to effective adaptation – and what kind of benefits could arise from it?But first, the episode kicks off with Matt and Jen exchanging wildlife sightings and nature observations – some unsettling, some exciting.Links:Local Zero podcast: https://www.localzeropod.com/Dr Emma Yule: https://edinburghcentre.org/team/emma-yuleProgress in adapting to climate change: 2025 report to Parliament: https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/progress-in-adapting-to-climate-change-2025/ Episode 37 – Decarbonising infrastructure: https://www.localzeropod.com/episodes/decarbonising-infrastructureScottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-national-adaptation-plan-2024-2029-2/UK Government Third National Adaptation Programme: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/third-national-adaptation-programme-nap3
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58:54
Local authorities, community energy and a just transition
How can local authorities collaborate with community energy groups to deliver a just transition? To explore this question, Fraser and Jen – making their co-hosting debut – are joined by Ellie Radcliffe, Project Manager at Carbon Co-op, and Charlotte Norton, Associate Director at The Carbon Trust.The conversation focuses on the Innovate UK-funded Net Zero Living programme, which aims to help local authorities accelerate the transition to net zero.Links:Local Zero podcast: https://www.localzeropod.com/Carbon Co-op: https://carbon.coop/Carbon Trust: https://www.carbontrust.com/Net Zero Living programme: https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/programme/net-zero-living/Episode 12 – Community energy: power to the people: https://www.localzeropod.com/episodes/12-community-energy-power-to-the-peopleEpisode 35 – How to kick-start community energy?: https://www.localzeropod.com/episodes/community-energyEpisode 70 – Putting the "us" in energy justice: https://www.localzeropod.com/episodes/putting-the-us-in-energy-justice?rq=70Episode 105 – The Local Power Plan and community energy: https://www.localzeropod.com/episodes/105-the-local-power-plan-and-community-energy-with-energy-minister-michael-shanks-mp
Climate action on your doorstep. Dr Jen Roberts, Prof Matt Hannon and Dr Fraser Stewart are your trusted guides to smart local energy and a zero carbon future. Find us at www.localzeropod.com
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