Transition Bath

Transition Bath West of England Combined Authority Mayoral Hustings
2025-04-23 19:00 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | St Michaels Without Church, Broad St, Bath, Somerset, BA1 5LJ, United Kingdom
This is your chance to hear from the candidates vying to become the next Mayor of the West of England Combined Authority! Join us at St Michael’s Church for a lively discussion on key issues affecting our region. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to engage with the candidates and make an informed decision on election day! The focus of the hustings will be how the new mayor can make the region more environmentally sustainable.
Four of the main candidates for the West of ‘Metro’ mayor who are attending the hustings are: Helen Godwin (Labour), Mary Page (Green Party), Oli Henman (Lib Dems),and Steve Smith (Conservatives). More information about the candidates is available here.
The successful candidate will be responsible for spending over £1 billion in B&NES, Bristol and South Gloucestershire during their term in the areas of transport, housing & planning, skills and education, environment & energy, and business investment. For more information click here.
The tickets are free but we are asking for a £2 donation at the door to cover our costs. Only those with tickets will allowed in. Please click here to book your ticket.
The Mayor and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority election will take place on Thursday 1 May.
The hustings on 23 April start at 7pm sharp, so please arrive beforehand, the doors open at 6:30pm.
Date: 23 April 2025: 7pm to 9pm Location: St Michael’s Without Church (opposite Waitrose), Broad Street, Bath BA1 5LJ

World Earth Day Green Screen: Escape from Extinction - Rewilding
2025-04-22 18:15 - 19:30 | The Little Theatre, St Michael's Place, Bath, BA1 1SF, United Kingdom
Picturehouse are screening ESCAPE FROM EXTINCTION; REWILDING across all sites in honour of World Earth Day, Tuesday April 22nd. This screening includes an exclusive, pre-recorded Q&A with director Matthew Brady.

Can the world be saved when so much has already been lost? Narrated by Academy Award winner Meryl Streep, this fascinating, inspiring, and timely documentary follows the scientific experts on the frontlines of conservation as they seek to answer this question.

The earth is rapidly approaching a sixth mass extinction event, with a quarter of all species under threat. However, there is still hope. Armed with a radical new vision known as ‘rewilding’, follow the world’s top environmental leaders on a spectacular journey across six continents as they work to rebuild ecosystems, restore biodiversity, and even transform lives.

From the cloud forests of Rwanda to the California coast, this bold new approach to wildlife conservation is not without its challenges. However, it may just be the solution to finding a sustainable balance between our delicate natural world and the demands of a growing human population.

Get your tickets.

What is Nature?
2025-04-14 19:30 - 21:00 | BRLSI, 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HN
What do we mean when we say that the environment is in danger, that Nature is being lost? You might think that this is self-evident, but actually, the very concept of “the Environment” is a recent invention, dating back only about 50 years.
Our modern conception of Nature being “a good thing” is not one that people have always subscribed to. And indeed, even today, we tend to be selective about those aspects of “Nature” that we like and those that we don’t.
In this talk Professor Stuart Reynolds will discuss how humans have viewed Nature through the ages and evaluate the idea that we now live in an “Anthropocene Age” in which few if any aspects of Nature remain undisturbed by humans. If that is so, then what does it mean to “conserve” Nature?
Stuart Reynolds is Emeritus Professor of Biology at the University of Bath. He is a member of the Department of Life Sciences and also of the Milner Centre for Evolution.
Tickets £3-£6

Herons and Peregrines Walk
2025-03-29 10:00 - 11:30
The first stage of the walk covers a short distance to look at the heronry in the trees above the Honda dealership at the bottom of Ralph Allen Drive. Last year there were 10 active nests. By early March, the Grey Herons should be rebuilding their nests and displaying. Visibility should be good as there won’t be leaves on the trees. After looking at the herons, the walk continues towards the city to see if the Peregrines on the Catholic church are at the nest. They might be displaying at this time of year, prior to breeding.
The walk will be around 1 mile in total, including crossing some roads.
If the event of bad weather, the walk will need to be cancelled or postponed.

Note: Please ensure you have registered via Eventbrite so you can be notified of any changes to this event
Please bring:

Sensible shoes
Weather appropriate clothing (coat/brolly/etc)
A drink
A camera/phone (optional)
Binoculars (optional)

Please don’t bring dogs to this event.
Meet in the car park at Prior Park Garden centre.

Webinar: What do you need to know before purchasing a heat pump?
2025-03-18 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-02-25 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-02-12 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-01-28 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-01-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
The webinar aims to cover a broad range of topics you should be aware of before purchasing a heat pump.

How do heat pumps work?
Which homes are most suitable (including cylinders, outside space)?
Thermal insulation improvements
Historic homes
Temperature versus efficiency/cost/CO2 and weather compensation
Reducing flow temperatures and upsizing radiators
Locating a heat pump, noise, planning permission
Hot water cylinders
Controls
Time of day tariffs
Do you run them 24-7? Most efficient ways of running them
Installation costs
How to go about getting quotes? Installers versus energy companies
Follow-up services offered by Transition Bath & BWCE

There will be the opportunity for questions and answers during the webinar but specific questions about individual properties will be deferred to a 1:1 meeting with homeowners being offered as a follow-up to these webinars.
We will provide a link to the webinar to those registered just before the event.
Book a free place here – we will contact you with the webinar details, weblink a couple of days before the event. The event is mainly aimed at residents of Bath & North East Somerset.

Green Screen: #ClimateScam? / Climate Anxiety / Plan Z: From Labcoats to Handcuffs
2025-03-16 16:00 - 17:30 | The Little Theatre, St Michael's Place, Bath, BA1 1SF, United Kingdom
Green Screen presents ‘#ClimateScam?‘ with short films Climate Anxiety and Plan Z: From Lab Coats to Handcuffs. This screening is followed by a live panel curated by all three filmmakers. Come and join the conversation.
All the films address the impact the climate crisis is having on our young people with refreshing, diverse and solutions-based perspectives as well as well as the stark situation faced by scientists who, unheard by government, are now taking to the streets.
#ClimateScam? (40 minutes)
As the world faces increasingly devastating climate-related disasters, why do so many people believe that climate change is all a hoax? This is the question that Jaz Njie, a young hairdresser and tech-savvy Gen Z-er, sets out to discover in the new film, #ClimateScam?. In this documentary, produced by award-winning charity Cornwall Climate Care, Jaz swaps her scissors for a microphone as she goes out to the homes of climate scientists, climate sceptics and climate activists, getting to know the real people behind the often angry headlines.
Climate Anxiety (17 minutes)
A Cambridge Moviemakers film directed by John Yates. As the climate crisis unfolds, young people fear for their future. In this short film young people, parents and professionals discuss their experiences of climate anxiety and how they deal with it.
Plan Z: From Labcoats to handcuffs (24 minutes)
Are scientists doing enough to sound the alarm about climate breakdown? Plan Z traces the motivations of British researchers who’ve turned to civil disobedience to warn the public directly, risking arrest, a criminal record and their professional reputations. When the UK government pledges to ‘max out’ oil and gas extraction, the lives of psychology professor Colin, microbiologist Abi and ecologist Aaron collide outside the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), where they and six others are arrested for causing alleged criminal damage. But who are the real climate criminals? As restrictions on protest tighten, will scientists retreat to their laboratories or will more stand up than ever before? A window into the world of reluctant activism, Plan Z explores the moral power of protest when established routes of influence fail.
Green Screen: #ClimateScam?, Climate Anxiety and Plan Z: From Labcoats to Handcuffs, The Little Theatre Cinema, 16 March, 4pm, £10.
Click here to book tickets – and see short video clip.

Winter Tree Walk
2025-03-15 10:00 - 11:30
In the winter it can be tricky to identify one species of deciduous tree from another. Join Mark Bagott and Tania Orgill as they lead you through the wonderful wintery trees to learn how to identify them using clues like shape, colour, leaf litter, silhouettes and arrangement of buds.

Please bring:
•Warm enough clothing for the weather (remember it will be much cooler in the woods)
•Sturdy footwear
•Camera (optional)
•Notebook & pen (optional)
Please ensure you book onto this event via Eventbrite so we can keep in touch with additional details or changes!

Please don’t bring dogs to this event.

Meeting by St James Church, South Stoke, Bath

Bath Future City: Planning, Development, Sustainability and Community
2025-03-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Percy Community Centre, New King Street, Bath, BA1 2BN
Join us for an evening of talks on how we use Bath’s landscape and plan its urban growth to shape a sustainable future for the city.
Hear from speakers on wider landscape policy, the need to reset the Local Plan, the mechanisms for promoting exemplar new development, and the role and power of community engagement in the planning process – how you can help to shape your city. You will also hear about Bath’s exciting new initiative, Bath Landscape City, and the role this will play in creating a greener, more biodiverse and sustainable city for the future.
Speakers:
Matt McCabe – Cabinet Member for the Built Environment for BANES
Matt will provide an overview of the planning policy context which sets the scene for future development; exploring topics covering the Greenbelt, housing allocations, the resetting of the Local Plan and the role that proactive public consultation has in shaping future plans for the city.
Philip Haile from Transition Bath
Philip will offer an analysis of the limitations imposed by ‘Viability’, and the National Planning Policy Framework in developing the Local Plan. This will include an examination of home energy efficiency standards, embodied carbon, affordable housing, housing densities, co-living spaces, transport infrastructure, community amenities, green and open spaces, and how these elements contribute to the creation of new housing developments and neighbourhoods.
Paul Pearce – the Green Infrastructure Programme Manager for BANES’ Landscape City Project
Following the screening of a short film on the Bathscape Project which celebrates Bath’s unique landscape setting, Paul will provide an overview of its exciting new initiative, Bath: Landscape City, as well as an outline of its Nature Recovery Strategy.
There will be time for Q+A with our panel of speakers.
Refreshments will be available.
We hope you will join us on Tuesday 11 March to celebrate Bath’s unique landscape, while exploring the opportunities for communities to engage with the planning process and the resetting of the Local Plan in shaping the future city of Bath.

Book your free ticket here.
Suggested donation: £6

All Transition meeting – March 2025
2025-03-04 19:30 - 21:00 | Ring O Bells, 10 Widcombe Parade, Bath, BA2 4JT, United Kingdom
Unfortunately due to a date clash we are now unable to run this meeting. Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to connecting with you all again very soon.
Join us to discuss everything that’s going on in Transition Bath and beyond at our monthly meeting at the Ring O’ Bells, Widcombe. If you want to join us, have an idea of a project you’d like to forward or just want to feel that you’re not alone in the fight for a better Bath, then this is a great place to start.
Just come along!
The venue is upstairs, which may not suit everyone’s needs. Please talk to us if you have any accessibility requirements, as we’re committed to making our events welcoming for all.

Butterflies & Moths: Key Indicators of Insect Population Change
2025-03-04 19:30 - 21:00 | BRLSI, 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HN
Maurice Avent was fortunate to purchase an SSSI valley close to Bath in 1982 for which he has kept records of butterfly populations for 30 years. He was National Chairman of Butterfly Conservation between 2007 and 2010.

Insects are very much the foundation upon which our planetary diversity of creatures, including the human race, depends to survive. Thanks to the bright colours of butterflies and some species of moth, they are almost the only insects whose populations have been studied for many centuries. Due to their sensitivity to minor environmental changes, butterflies and moths can be used as indicators of the general health of the entire planetary insect population.

This is a Bath Natural History Society talk; tickets £3 on the door.

Hedge laying – your chance to learn a traditional skill
2025-02-28 09:30 - 16:30 | Smallcombe Nuttery, Horseshoe Walk, Bath, BA2 6DD, United Kingdom
Transition Bath offers another day of hedge-laying at Smallcombe Nuttery. We are very grateful to Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and the National Trust for their support with this work.
Hedge laying is a traditional country skill intended to create a strong, dense living hedge. By laying a hedge you not only create a living fence, you also help to encourage new growth, making it an excellent way of regenerating an old, overgrown hedge without replacing it. It’s a skill that is best learnt from a craftsperson, and we offer that chance. You will be working in a group of volunteers led by CPRE’s hedge-layer, gaining real work practice on one of the Nuttery’s overgrown hedges.
Spaces are limited and must be attended if we are to maximise our time with our hedge expert so please be certain that you can make the appointment before booking. Please include a contact number so that we can keep you up-to-date on what is required for the day.
We will be outside for most of the day, so please dress accordingly and bring a stout packed lunch and plenty of water. Sustaining cakes will be provided!
Get your tickets

Climate Change & the New Normal
2025-02-27 19:30 - 21:00 | BRLSI, 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HN
Talk by Dr Venus Bivar, Associate Professor of Environmental History at St Anne’s College, University of Oxford.
Dr Venus Bavar’s research and teaching are located at the intersection of environmental, economic, and European history. Her scholarship excavates the histories of major contemporary global phenomena, from the international agricultural trade system and climate change, to the primacy of economics in political life and the centrality of free markets to the liberal democratic state.
This is a Historical Association event – for tickets please email mikeshort20@btinternet.com

All Transition meeting – February 2025
2025-02-11 19:30 - 21:00 | Ring O Bells, 10 Widcombe Parade, Bath, BA2 4JT, United Kingdom
Join us to discuss everything that’s going on in Transition Bath and beyond at our monthly meeting at the Ring O’ Bells, Widcombe. If you want to join us, have an idea of a project you’d like to forward or just want to feel that you’re not alone in the fight for a better Bath, then this is a great place to start.
Just come along!
The venue is upstairs, which may not suit everyone’s needs. Please talk to us if you have any accessibility requirements, as we’re committed to making our events welcoming for all.

How we sold our future: The failure to fight climate change
2025-02-11 18:00 - 19:00
For decades we have known about the dangers of global warming. Nevertheless, greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase. How can we explain our failure to take the necessary measures to stop climate change? Why are societies, despite the mounting threat to ourselves and our children, so reluctant to take action?
Jens Beckert, Director at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies and author of How We Sold Our Future: The Failure to Fight Climate Change, joins the Institute for Policy Research to discuss the answers to these questions.
Drawing on social science research, he argues that climate change is an inevitable product of the structures of capitalist modernity which have been developing for the past 500 years. Our institutional and cultural arrangements are operating at the cost of destroying the natural environment and attempts to address global warming are almost inevitably bound to fail. Temperatures will continue to rise, and social and political conflicts will intensify. The tragic truth is we are selling our future for the next quarterly figures, the upcoming election results, and today’s pleasure.
Online and free to attend.
Book a place here.

What Happens After You Flush?
2025-02-06 19:30 - 21:00 | BRLSI, 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HN
Bath is home to a vast underground network of drains and sewers, responsible for carrying away both foul water and rain – often through the same pipes. But how did this system come to be, how does it function today, and what changes are needed for the future?
Matt Wheeldon, a senior figure at Wessex Water, will take you through the fascinating history and workings of Bath’s sewerage system. From the challenges of combined sewers to the innovative solutions being developed, this talk will shed light on an essential yet often overlooked part of the city’s infrastructure.
This event is perfect for anyone interested in the hidden systems that keep Bath running smoothly, the environmental challenges we face and the future of wastewater management.
Book your ticket

Global food philosophy with Dr Julian Baggini
2025-02-04 19:30 - 21:00 | BRLSI, 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HN
The global food system is incredibly complex and in crisis. In his new book, How the World Eats, Julian Baggini argues that we can use philosophical tools to identify the key principles that should govern a food system fit for the 21st century and beyond, drawing on the empirical base of how humans have fed themselves across the globe and history.
This involves considerations of agriculture, ecology, animal welfare, human rights, nutrition and political economy. Philosophically, these require considerations of the limits of reductionism, the conception of justice, ethics and epistemology. Although the book is wide-ranging, Julian will also argue against the idea that we always have to trade-off depth and breadth, making the case that what we call “breadth” is just another kind of depth.
Dr Julian Baggini is the author, co-author or editor of over 20 books including The Sunday Times bestsellers The Pig that Wants to be Eatenand How The World Thinks, and, most recently, How to Think Like a Philosopher (all Granta). He was the founding editor of The Philosophers’ Magazine and has written for numerous newspapers and magazines, as well as for the think tanks The Institute of Public Policy Research, Demos and Counterpoint.
Tickets: £3-£6. Also available online. Click here to book.

Winter Bird Walk 2024
2025-02-01 10:00 - 11:30
This walk from Wild About Bath will look at the birds in the churchyard and its vicinity, and then walk along the road to Tucking Mill to see what is on the bird feeders and what is on the lake. Unless the weather is bad, it should be possible to see all of the common winter species, with a good chance of Marsh Tit, Little Grebe and Cormorant.

The walk will be around 1 mile in total, and vigilance will be required around the cars along the narrow – but quiet – road.
Meet at Monkton Combe Churchyard.
If the event of bad weather, this event may need to be cancelled or postponed.

Note: Please ensure you have registered via Eventbrite so you can be notified of any changes to this event
Please bring:

Sensible shoes
Weather appropriate clothing (coat/brolly/etc)
A drink
A camera/phone (optional)
Binoculars (optional)
Bird ID books (optional)

Building Connections with Building Growth - Retrofitting the future!
2025-01-30 17:30 - 19:00 | Temple Studios, Temple Gate, Redcliffe, Bristol, BS1 6QA, United Kingdom
Building Connections; with Building Growth
This event is all about bringing people together to learn, share, and grow in the world of retrofitting. Join us at Temple Studios for a few hours filled with insightful discussions, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, there’s something here for everyone. Don’t miss out on this chance to connect with like-minded individuals and discover the endless possibilities of retrofitting. See you there!
Who are Building Growth South West?
Building Growth South West supports individuals and local businesses with tailored, future-proofing skills to enhance their employment opportunities and business portfolios.
We aim to enhance the local landscape through training opportunities, all of which are fully funded. Led by YTKO, Building Growth South West works with a range of partners and funders to provide the best training and skills development support for sole traders, freelancers, and SMEs across the South West of England.
We have a number of programmes to support traditional construction businesses, including Retrofit West: Building Connections, which aims to foster sustainable growth and innovation within the retrofit industry across the West of England Combined Authority. This project is funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority through the Green Recovery Fund.
Building Connections; with Building Growth can offer:

Opportunities to learn new skills and techniques
Developing commercial relationships with offsite construction suppliers and providers
Funded training and support to secure long-term jobs in the retrofit industry

This event is part of the Retrofit West CIC programme, delivered by Building Growth South West.

Antimicrobial Resistance and the Environment
2025-01-22 19:30 - 21:00 | BRLSI, 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HN
Antimicrobial resistance poses a growing threat to public health and ecosystems. Environmental factors, including agricultural runoff, wastewater discharge, and pharmaceutical pollution, facilitate the spread of resistant microbes.
There is also evidence that natural reservoirs, such as soil and water, can act as hotspots for the emergence of new resistant strains through the exchange of resistance genes.
This talk will discuss the current evidence from genomics studies, the key role of mobile genetic elements, and the rising threat from drug resistant fungi.
Professor Edward Feil, Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath
Book tickets here:

All Transition meeting – January 2025
2025-01-15 19:30 - 21:00 | Ring O Bells, 10 Widcombe Parade, Bath, BA2 4JT, United Kingdom
Please note: This event has been moved from 13th January to 15th January. The time and venue remain the same.
Join us to discuss everything that’s going on in Transition Bath and beyond at our monthly meeting at the Ring O’ Bells, Widcombe. If you want to join us, have an idea of a project you’d like to forward or just want to feel that you’re not alone in the fight for a better Bath, then this is a great place to start.
Just come along!
The venue is upstairs, which may not suit everyone’s needs. Please talk to us if you have any accessibility requirements, as we’re committed to making our events welcoming for all.

Aviation Decarbonisation: Issues, Challenges and Actions for Change
2024-12-10 16:30 - 17:30
I-SEE Sustainable Energy & the Environment Webinar
Aviation Decarbonisation: Issues, Challenges and Actions for Change
Andrew Chadwick, Ecosystem Director Air Mobility & Airports, Connected Places Catapult
Global CO2 emissions from aviation have quadrupled since the 1960s and aviation accounts for 2.5% of global emissions, not counting non-CO2 effects. If the sector does not act now to address this it is forecast that aviation will, by 2050, account for almost 40% of global emissions.
This presentation will present the case for why we need to decarbonise aviation now, how can this be achieved, the policies to support it, and what it means in practice.
It will also provide examples of current initiatives, plus provide an overview of the work that Connected Places Catapult are delivering on zero emission airports and fuel infrastructure to address these.
Andrew Chadwick is a Chartered Engineer and is the Ecosystem Director Air Mobility & Airports at the Connected Places Catapult. Andrew leads on Future Air Transport, Advanced Air Mobility, and Aviation Sustainability innovation initiatives. His work includes Solution Architect on a wide number of Future Flight Challenge air mobility and aviation sustainability projects, the UK Government Drone Pathfinder Catalyst Programme, plus Designer and Solution Architect of the Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure project studying the introduction and transition of hydrogen and electric aircraft and supporting infrastructure into airports and airfields.
Andrew is a Member of the Jet Zero Council Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure Subgroup, a Member of the UK Government Future of Flight Industry Group, Member of the Industry Advisory Boards for the Autonomous Vehicle Systems and Dynamics MSc and Applied AI MSc at Cranfield University, a member of the Royal Academy of Engineering Working Group on the Safety and Ethics of Autonomous Systems, a member of the UK Government Drones Industry Action Group, and a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society Remotely Piloted Aircraft & Autonomous Systems Specialist Group Committee.

Green Screen: Food for Profit + Panel
2024-12-09 20:00 - 22:00 | BRLSI, 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HN
Food For Profit is the first feature documentary that exposes the links between the meat industry, lobbying, and the corridors of power. A five-year investigation that denounced how Europe is transferring hundreds of billions of taxpayers’ money into the hands of intensive farms, which mistreat animals, pollute the environment, and pose a potential danger for future pandemics.
Directors Giulia Innocenzi and Pablo D’Ambrosi, along with their team of investigators, take us on an enlightening but shocking journey across Europe, where they confront farmers, corporations, and politicians. Travelling across Europe, they infiltrate farms across Europe, exposing the truth behind the perceived excellence of European dairy and meat production whilst also infiltrating high level powers in Brussels and gaining shocking information.
Green Screen is a community-led space to discuss the environmental issues raised in the films we show. Everyone is invited to continue the conversation after the film in the cinema’s bar or cafe – enjoy a free tea or filter coffee when you bring a keep cup!

Get your tickets here.

Sustainable Christmas Wreath Workshop
2024-11-30 19:30 - 21:00 | Claverton Down Community Hall, Claverton Down Road, Bath, BA2 6DT, United Kingdom
This is event is now cancelled
Make your own stunning Christmas wreath with guidance from local flower farmer and florist Louisa du Rose.
Using sustainably sourced woodland materials you will create a beautiful wreath to decorate your door over the Christmas period. All the elements used for your wreaths, including the willow base, will come from Louisa’s organic flower farm in the village of Faulkland, just south of Bath. The wreath will be built from a variety of mixed evergreen foliages, pine cones, textural seed heads and grasses. This is a very relaxed workshop and Louisa will guide you step by step so that you leave with a stunning festive wreath.

Hosted in Claverton Down Community Hall.
Suitable for all levels
All materials supplied.
Parking available.
Refreshments included in the ticket price.

Claverton Down Community Hall, Claverton Down Road, Bath BA2 6DT 7.30pm – 9pm
Tickets are priced at £60

COP29 Azerbaijan: International co-operation for a sustainable future
2024-11-28 19:30 - 21:00 | BRLSI, 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HN
The 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024. With global temperatures hitting record highs, and extreme weather events affecting people around the globe, COP29 will bring together leaders from governments, business and civil society to find solutions to the defining issue of our time. A key focus of COP29 will be on finance, as trillions of dollars will be required for countries to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect lives and livelihoods from the worsening impacts of climate change.
COP29 will be a key moment for countries to present their updated national climate action plans under the Paris agreement, which are due by early 2025. If done right, these plans will limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and double as investment plans advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. But what if it fails to secure an agreement that will secure these goals? This BRLSI event brings together a panel of local & national experts on climate change and the sustainability transition – questions welcome!
The panel will include Penny Tranter, former BBC weather forecast presenter and Met Office advisor; Theresa Löber, Head of Climate Project Team at the Bank of England; Stuart Reynolds, Emeritus Professor of Biology at the University of Bath; James Spincer, postgraduate student of Climate, Policy and Politics at the University of Birmingham; and will be chaired by Chad Staddon, Professor of Resource Economics and Policy at in the University of the West of England (UWE).
This meeting has been co-organised with the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Meteorological Society.

Evolution of economic regulation of the energy sector to reflect Net Zero
2024-11-26 16:30 - 17:30
I-SEE Sustainable Energy & the Environment Webinar
‘The evolution of economic regulation of the energy sector to reflect Net Zero’
Dr Gavin Knott, Chief Economist at Ofgem
A presentation and discussion on how the role of regulation has developed over time & how this might need to change further in the future.
The energy system has gone through a number of changes in recent years, and this is expected to continue, with the government’s announcement that it will seek to decarbonise the power system by 2030. In this talk, Gavin will talk about how the economics of the energy system are expected to change, and the implications for Ofgem’s regulation over the next few years.
Dr Gavin Knott is the Chief Economist at Ofgem and works on both regulation of network monopolies and on using economic analysis to help assess how competition and regulation can work together in the consumer interest in energy markets. Gavin has nearly 20 years’ experience working in competition and regulation across the UK’s infrastructure sectors, working as a regulator and in the private sector. Gavin also has a PhD in financial economics.

Webinar: What do you need to know before purchasing a heat pump?
2024-11-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
The webinar aims to cover a broad range of topics you should be aware of before purchasing a heat pump.

How do heat pumps work?
Which homes are most suitable (including cylinders, outside space)?
Thermal insulation improvements
Historic homes
Temperature versus efficiency/cost/CO2 and weather compensation
Reducing flow temperatures and upsizing radiators
Locating a heat pump, noise, planning permission
Hot water cylinders
Controls
Time of day tariffs
Do you run them 24-7? Most efficient ways of running them
Installation costs
How to go about getting quotes? Installers versus energy companies
Follow-up services offered by Transition Bath & BWCE

There will be the opportunity for questions and answers during the webinar but specific questions about individual properties will be deferred to a 1:1 meeting with homeowners being offered as a follow-up to these webinars.
We will provide a link to the webinar to those registered just before the event.
This event is running in two sessions – Tuesday 12th November and Wednesday 20th November. The same content will be covered in both sessions.
Book a free place here – we will contact you with the webinar details, weblink a couple of days before the event. The event is mainly aimed at residents of Bath & North East Somerset.
Book your place
