Our Advocacy Team has three strands, Dorset deserves Better, Dorset COP and Carbon Literacy:

Working with Dorset Council

1. Dorset Deserves Better Project is a continuing campaign to persuade Dorset Council to rethink their draft Local Plan. The Alliance is calling on Dorset Council for

(i) a shift towards brownfield developments to take the pressure off our exceptional green countryside
(ii) more affordable houses, social housing and low-cost rental housing especially for young people and
(iii) a stronger link towards policies that reduce carbon emissions and improve biodiversity. .

2. Work with the Dorset Council sustainability team in their three areas:

• Climate Change: Cutting our greenhouse gas emissions
• Biodiversity Loss: helping nature recover by protecting and enhancing our land, rivers sand seas
• Environmental Resilience: adapting for the impacts of unavoidable environmental change.

3. Our Questions team aims to work with those in positions of power (councils, governments) to advance climate-friendly and environment-friendly policies.

Contact Giles Watts for further information

Dorset COP

Dorset COP (Conference of the Parties) is Dorset’s very own opportunity for the community to have its say on the climate and ecological crises. By bringing together a wide cross section of community-based groups from across the county we aim to raise awareness of the need and desire to act locally, in a way that puts people at the heart of decisions and is socially just. This yearly event is held in different locations in Dorset each year, with 2025 planning to be held in Sturminster Newton. Dorset COP is a collaboration between DCAN, Zero Carbon Dorset and Sustainable Dorset.

Contact Jenny Morisetti jennymorisetti@hotmail.com

Carbon Literacy

Parish, Town and Community Council Toolkit

This Carbon Literacy course and accreditation equips town and parish clerks, staff, councillors and community group leaders with the understanding of their roles and of their influence in relation to the need to reduce carbon impact. It provides the information they need to communicate the significance of climate change and the changes needed to address the climate emergency.

Contact Belinda Bawden or Helen Sumbler