Part of the Webinar series: The Environment, Climate Change and COP26
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The South Downs Network is hosting a series of webinars (via Zoom) in late October and early November, in support of the aims of the Global Climate Change conference, COP26, which takes place in Glasgow next month in November 2021. Here are are the profiles of our speakers for the Emission & Pollution from Transport webinar on Wed 27th October at 6pm
Sally Pavey
Sally Pavey is the chair of CAGNE, appointed at the outset of this community organisation. She has since been re-elected every year by members at the annual AGM. She is also a trustee of CPRE Sussex and has years of marketing experience with international business, media and event organising. She is well-known in the community as a campaigner for a greener future for all.
Sally says: “Environmental concerns are at the forefront of resident worries and fears for future generations. We must strongly oppose Gatwick Airport’s plans to rebuild the emergency runway as a second runway, as constraint must be the answer for as long as this industry does not have any commercially viable way to stop using fossil fuel for flying”.
About CAGNE
CAGNE is the umbrella aviation community and environmental group for Sussex, Surrey, and Kent. It was founded in February 2014 by communities impacted by changes to airspace.
CAGNE has since grown and diversified, as an umbrella community group to embrace the many issues that Gatwick presents on a daily and nightly basis. Gatwick’s ongoing desire for growth is a major concern to residents, as are the proposals with the modernisation of airspace that could include new flight paths over rural communities; changes to flight paths to make the sky more efficient for airlines; increases in noise. We are a major campaigning/lobbying force opposing all airport expansion because of the impact that aviation has on local services and amenities, our planet and natural world, and being one of the biggest polluters, releasing carbon and greenhouse gases in flight.
CAGNE has an environmental campaign called Pledge to Fly Less that seeks to educate the flyer about the impact that flying has on the planet. We do not seek to demonise flyers or be anti-aviation, but to educate.
The Rt Hon Norman Baker
Norman Baker is Advisor to the CEO of the Campaign for Better Transport. After leaving parliament he continued his writing career as an author and columnist. He was a Member of Parliament for Lewes 18 years from 1997 to 2015.
Norman was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport 2010 to 2013 and Minister of State for Crime Prevention 2013 to 2014.
In parliament he was:
- Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment and Transport, 2002 to 2005
- Shadow Environment and Rural Affairs Secretary, 2005 to 2006
- Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, 2007
- Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, 2007 to 2010
- Parliamentary Under Secretary for Transport, 2010 to 2013
- Career outside politics
He was elected as a local councillor in 1987 and in 1991 became the Liberal Democrat Leader of Lewes District Council.
Norman was educated at The Royal Liberty School in Gidea Park and studied at Royal Holloway College, University of London graduating in 1978 with a BA degree in German & History.
Dr Alister Scott
Alister Scott is Chair of Cuckmere Community Solar (CCS) and has been working on the project for more than 8 years. He lives very close to the site and looks forward to being old and (even more) wrinkly whilst the project still generates revenues from zero-carbon power for investors and the local community.
Alister says “This is a first of a kind and as such we hope it will create a model for many other communities to be able to follow. Alister will outline the project, a bit of its history, and the lessons they are learning for other communities but also for policy-makers in helping unlock ‘our power’ – the goodwill of ordinary people who want to make a difference in addressing the climate and nature emergency”.
Cuckmere Community Solar
Cuckmere Community Solar is a Community Benefit Society that is working to build a community-owned solar farm near Berwick, East Sussex. They are now working with Riding Sunbeams and Network Rail to power trains with solar for the first time in the UK. The solar electricity service is planned to ‘switch’ on in summer 2022. Once tested to Network Rail’s satisfaction, the project will be put up for community ownership via a sale of shares or bonds. All CCS profits will be used to help our communities go zero carbon.
Article about the project:
On the right track: the UK railway that runs on solar power