Descriptor paragraph in italics What is your local authority doing/not doing on climate change? Who are the policy-makers? What language do they use when talking about climate change? How can they be lobbied and constructively engaged with?
Why it is a core competency : xxx
Global issues have local impacts, and local solutions (as well as global ones!) How can you be taken seriously – by yourself and by potential allies – if you don’t know what is happening in your own neighbourhood?
What consequences are there for yourself, the movement and the bigger picture if you can’t do level one? :
Death of a movement. Irrelevance. “Poisoning the well” for anyone
who comes after you. In my humble opinion…
Stage One: xxx
Can explain the boundaries and remits of the local authority in which she lives, which party holds power, who the leader of the council is, what the name of the executive member for the environment is
Stage Two: xxx
Able to explain the ins and outs of the local policy and implementation, citing Beacon Status projects, Nottingham Declaration stuff, LGA, ICLEI etc
DON’T STOP NOW! LEVEL THREE AND FOUR ARE WHERE THE FUN IS AT, HONEST!
Stage Three:
If given time to prepare, able to explain the policies in deetail, pointing out what is good and bad, and suggest implementable improvements.
Stage Four:
Able, in public fora, to explain the current successes and failings of local policy in everyday language, giving people a sense of where and how their influence could be felt. Able to produce accurate and speedy translations into English of Councilese documents that explains the underlying assumptions of the policy-makers and assesses the probability that the document will just be fine words.
(Click on each of these for descriptors, indicators and resources)
