The PKC Staff Climate Café launched in November 2022. This is a space for PKC staff to keep in touch, share ideas and raise awareness of positive actions which can be undertaken to tackle the climate change and biodiversity crises. The climate café is based in Pullar House, Perth and meets monthly, giving members an opportunity to come along to in-person and online events. The format of our events usually consists of welcoming a guest speaker followed by conversation. We hold workshops to establish what members want from a cafe, how they feel about the climate and ecological crisis, share best practice examples of what departments are already achieving and how different departments can collaborate. We also hold in-person activities such as waste reduction workshops and outdoor activities.
The PKC Climate Action Plan has been presented to all members, highlighting how together staff can empower and inspire one another to act now. Two of the key projects which are being adopted by staff include committing to delivering pledges and undertaking climate training. The pledge helps tackle the climate change and biodiversity loss crises by supporting staff to save energy and money when working from home or at the office, green their money, join the PKC Biodiversity Ambassadors, reduce waste and commute effectively. In addition, Climate Change and Biodiversity training is available to all PKC staff. The levels range from the short online essentials via e learning platforms (mandatory), to fully accredited Carbon Literacy Project training.
Coming into the colder months there is an emphasis on delivering our ‘Keep Cosy this Winter’ campaign which is aimed at giving advice on ways to reduce fuel bills whilst staying warm. To compliment this campaign, we have welcomed guest speakers The HEAT Project and Warm Connections to focus on locally based energy advice services. We are also promoting co-working and warm spaces across Perth and Kinross to benefit both staff and the communities which they work with.
PKC Staff Climate Café hosted litter picks to support Spring Clean Scotland in collaboration with Keep Scotland Beautiful and Willowgate Activity Centre. The community joined us to work together to help the environment and make a positive difference by maintaining pride in our community. Over 40 people volunteered to protect wildlife and improve safety. Feedback from participants highlighted this type of activity improved health and wellbeing and it was an ideal situation to make new friends with like-minded people. The litter pick covered four sites on both land and water. Over 4 hours, 65 bags of litter were collected.