AS the world focuses on Glasgow for the COP26 UN Climate Conference, East Hampshire will be hosting its own event, focusing on the opportunities to take action locally.

The climate conference, organised by East Hampshire District Council and Damian Hinds MP and supported by the Post, will be held in Alton on October 8, ahead of the international summit in November.

COP East Hampshire will be an opportunity to look at what households, businesses, the public sector and others can do here to accelerate decarbonisation.

The East Hampshire MP said: “Tackling climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our age.

“Britain is a decarbonisation leader internationally, but we need to go much further to get to net zero.

“Much of it will be policy, national initiatives and international agreements, but as individuals, families, firms and communities, we can play a key part too.

“COP East Hampshire is our opportunity to look at how to support that, sharing information and best practice.

“It will complement the great work done by East Hampshire’s strong network of climate and environmental groups.

“I am really excited about this and the potential to help reduce our individual and collective carbon footprint.

“Each contribution will make a difference.”

And although there is wide concern about climate change, combating it effectively can’t be left to governments, we all need to get involved, say those behind COP East Hampshire.

Cllr Robert Mocatta, the district council’s portfolio holder for climate change, added: “It is the biggest issue facing the world and we all have a part to play in fighting it.

“COP East Hampshire will give residents and businesses an insight into the issues we must overcome and the best actions to limit our own impact on the environment.

“To really make progress against climate change we need to tackle it both internationally and locally.

“That’s why we have set up COP East Hampshire to run parallel with the international COP26 event.”

Three local action groups are currently developing recommendations in the key areas of buildings, transport and land use and agriculture.

Group members come from local community organisations active in these sectors.

Among the local residents’ groups involved are Petersfield Climate Action Network (PeCAN) and Alton Climate Action Network (ACAN).

The Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Company, local architects and retired civil servants are also group members.

They have been joined by representatives from local businesses, farms and schools and officials from Hampshire County Council and the district council.

Their findings will be shared at the event in Alton, showcasing new ideas and innovative work already under way locally.

Alongside the presentations and talks will be an exhibition, enabling visitors to engage with organisations and companies that can support action locally to decarbonise.

It is hoped COP East Hampshire will set the agenda for councils in terms of how climate change can be overcome for the coming years.

For anyone keen to find out more about the event or the opportunity to exhibit, please contact [email protected]

Details, and registration information, will be available in September.