Step up to Net Zero
In their efforts to tackle the climate crisis, Glasgow City Council have created a Climate Plan. This includes an initiative to help organisations get some systems in place to become more environmentally friendly, cut down their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduce the waste that goes to landfill. Funded by Glasgow City Council and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and delivered by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, the programme is called ‘Step Up To Net Zero’. Participating organisations are provided with a part-time resource to help shape their sustainability processes.
What is ‘Net Zero’?
So what is Net Zero? It’s short for ‘Net Zero Emissions’. By ‘Emissions’ we mean all the greenhouse gasses (GHGs) we’re producing through our use of fossil fuels, (e.g. coal, gas and petrol), the way we farm food and animals, and cut down too many trees. ‘Net zero’ means to balance out those GHG emissions so that we don’t add any to the environment. We can do this by reducing how much gas we create and capturing and storing the gasses we do create (trees are great at this). For example, if we make 50 tonnes of gas emissions we must capture 50 tonnes by planting a lot of trees or restoring some natural habitat like peat lands or mangroves. The very first thing we need to do is work out how many emissions we are creating. That’s where Step Up To Net Zero comes in.
Step Up To Net Zero Placement with Project Ability
I’ve been lucky enough to be placed with Project Ability, a visual arts charity based right in the city centre of Glasgow. Project Ability has been supporting people with disabilities and mental ill-health to create art since 1984. The organisation are incredibly resourceful and have been very good at making the most of their materials for creating visual art, like drawings, paintings and pottery.
The charity has a spectacular space for workshops that range from embroidery to woodwork. There is a wheelchair-accessible gallery on the first floor where they host exhibitions of their participants’ art and a shop where they sell some fabulous colourful creations that make great gifts. You can find their online shop here.
In my first week with them I witnessed the transformation of the third-floor workshop space into a whimsical winter wonderland for the end-of-year party for the participants, staff and volunteers. All the decorations were made in-house, using recyclable materials, by the Arts Centre Technician.
Project Ability is very conscious of the environment and not much goes to waste. With all the creative skills in the workshop there is very little that cannot be transformed into art. During my time with Project Ability I’ll be reporting on what they’re doing well and their journey towards Net Zero. You can find their Environmental and Sustainability Policy here.
Text by Lynne Haddow
Featured Image: Drawing ‘In The Forest’ by Katy Barton
Please note that this phase of the project is funded by Glasgow City Council and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
