Congleton is hosting a Climate Festival and Green Fayre next week.

The events held from 23-31 October will take place as world leaders prepare to meet in Glasgow for COP26, the annual UN climate change conference.

The festivities are organised by Congleton Partnership's Sustainability Group and Congleton Town Council.

The Climate Festival will feature over 20 'green' activities.

These span from walks, talks, swaps, site visits, films and practical demonstrations such as tree planting and apple juicing.

Congleton Nub News spoke to climate activist Dr Barry Speed, who is one of the organisers of the festival.

He said: "The main reason for the Climate Festival week is to raise awareness so everybody understands this is the most important issue facing us all.

"When you talk to people on the street, they're either not interested or they say it's too complicated for them, they've got too much in their own lives to worry about.

"Even when they do engage they say, 'What can I do to make a difference? What can I do as an individual?'."

Barry suggested a number of simple things we can all do to help reduce our carbon footprint.

He said: "We know using your car less is hard for a lot of people because public transport is so terrible and electric cars are more expensive.

"But to walk or cycle or use the bus for short journeys wherever possible will make a difference."

He also suggested that changing our diet can play a crucial part, as more than a quarter of carbon emissions is caused by food production.

He said: "One of the biggest things someone can do to reduce their carbon footprint is cut down the amount of meat they eat, that's very effective.

"I wouldn't say give up meat completely, just reduce it to maybe once or twice a week instead of every day.

"[Just doing] that will make an appreciable difference.

"Things like changing your lightbulbs to LEDs will also certainly save both money and the environment."

Congleton Town Council declared a climate change emergency in 2019 and made an ambitious pledge to make Congleton carbon neutral by 2025.

Our town's borough council - Cheshire East - have also made this promise.

However, when asked about the government's current approach to the climate emergency Barry suggested both are not doing enough to promote 'green' living and climate awareness.

The climate activist said: "Governments have been twiddling their thumbs, only since The Paris Agreement have they began to take notice.

"It is the most pressing emergency facing us right now, it has to be the top of everybody's agenda including the council's."

The upcoming COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement.

They will also rework the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Many experts believe Earth is at a tipping point and action must be taken immediately to prevent global disaster.

When asked about his hopes for the outcome of the COP26, Barry said: "We're all hoping that the

nations involved agree to cut emissions very drastically over the next 10-30 years so that we don't exceed a 1.5°Celsius temperature increase.

"If we don't cut emissions, we will overshoot not just 1.5°c, we'll probably be up to 3°c and that will be catastrophic for us all.

"We want governments not just to pledge, but to actually put into place real action plans for cutting greenhouse emissions, but that will be huge work."

He also believes warring factions in government currently act as roadblocks in saving the environment.

He said: "This is a situation that should not become political.

"If we think back to the wartime, it was a coalition government, you could only fight a war when politics is put to one side.

"Perhaps it's a case for the same now."

There are many activities taking place throughout the festival which local people are encouraged to take part in to educate themselves and discover steps which can be taken to reduce our carbon footprint.

Activities include the Dane-in-Shaw Pasture Eco Tour (25 October), a 'People & Wildlife' talk and walk at Astbury Mere Country Park (25 October).

Another is a Rewilding Park Tour starting at Congleton Park pavilion (27 October).

A particular event of note is a talk and Q&A session with eco-youth and school-strike climate campaigner Esther Bird.

The inspiring teenager will host an engaging Presentation and Q&A session about how we can use

our ever-growing climate anxiety as fuel to create change.

The climate campaigner is just 14 years old.

The evening will explore how young people can make meaningful change when it often feels like we have no agency.

Climate anxiety has skyrocketed globally in recent years.

This event will take place at Congleton Town Hall on Friday 29 October.

The young climate activist previously performed a Tedx Talk in 2019 where she discussed her journey into climate activism, which can be viewed here.

Tickets for all events can be purchased here.

The week of environmental activities will close with the Green Fayre on Saturday 30 October between 10am-4pm.

Taking place on Congleton High Street, the fayre will consist of more than 30 stalls housing a wide range of local community groups, organisations and businesses who have signed up to showcase their work on the climate emergency.

All the stalls will have information, products and services which will help local people live more sustainably.

Stalls will include Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Congleton Food4Free, Congleton In Bloom, Plastic Free Congleton and many more.

Further information and a full list of stalls and activities can be found at Congleton Town Council's website.

The booklet for the event can be downloaded here.

You can also download materials to promote the Congleton festival from your own home, similar to the banner outside Buglawton Primary School.

Promoting an event in Congleton? Please click here to list it on the Congleton Nub News What's On section.

Please consider signing up for our Friday weekly newsletter containing each week's top 10 Congleton news stories, and one FREE exclusive article.

2500 of you lovely people have signed up already.

Simply enter your email address into the shaded box below.

Free from pop-up ads, or unwanted surveys, Congleton Nub News is a quality online newspaper which produces 15-20 stories a week for our town.

You can also find us on Facebook or Twitter.