Climate Cafe

Find green, sustainable solutions to the Climate Crisis. Share coffee and cake with other people who care. Next two dates: 31 May & 19 July.

Upcoming Topics:

31 May 26 - 'Working towards Sustainability: lessons from an eco village in Tanzania' with Emma Cooper

Emma Cooper talks about her work with Islamic Help, headquartered in Balsall Heath. She is a coordinator for sustainable solutions with people in areas of the world that are highly challenged by social, political and ecological tensions. Her approach starts with eco-education in her work place and she is currently facilitating the retrofitting and expansion of a Children's Eco Village and school in Tanzania.

19 Jul 26 - 'Birmingham Mother Garden Network' with Felipe Molina
Mother Gardens are gardens that help create new gardens through the sharing of plants, seeds, skills and resources. With the aim of increasing community resilience, they promote regenerative methods of gardening, climate resilient and nutritionally dense crops, and mutual aid. At this talk you will learn how to develop your own Mother Garden, and how existing community groups can adopt the model to use it for their unique goals and needs. The talk includes a tour of the Community Garden at The Warehouse.

Cimate Cafe is a recurring event at the BRIG in Digbeth and hosted by Extinction Rebellion and Friends of the Earth. Each Climate Cafe focuses on a different environmental topic led by an expert in their field. You can ask questions and discover more from the shared experiences of people who attend. Events are held on Sunday afternoons, as and when speakers are available.

This is a welcoming space for hopeful ideas. It is open to everyone, regardless of how much you know already to share thoughts and solutions to the climate and ecological crises.

Previous Topics:

Dec 23 - 'Intro to Energy: Generating, Storing, and Using' with Issy Stephens from the University of Birmingham

Jan 24 - 'What Eco-Justice Looks Like as an Ethnic Minority' with Toqueer Quyyam, writer of the Toqueer Green Experience blog

Feb 24 - 'Beat the Traffic and Save the Planet With Active Travel' with Better Streets for Birmingham committee

Mar 24 - 'Elevating Your Style Sustainably: Tips and Tricks from a Sustainable Stylist' with Sahra Derkits, founder and owner of TakingYourSpace

Apr 24 - 'Taking Responsibilty for Sustainability in our Institutions' with Krutika Ganeru, Sustainability Project Officer at Aston University

May 24 - 'Why Air Quality Matters' with Kirsten, activist with Mums for Lungs

Jun 24 - 'James Cond, A Retrofit Story in the Heart of the City' with Deb Bunce, Head of Sustainable Construction at University College Birmingham

Jul 24 - 'Repair Cafe' with ReCognition Circular, T-Level Engineering Students from University College Birmingham, and others

Sep 24 - 'Individuals Can Only Do So Much: Why We Need The Climate & Nature Bill' with Jamie Russel from Zero Hour

Oct 24 - 'Corporate Profit or People's Green Energy Revolution' with David Toke, author of Energy Revolutions

Nov 24 - 'Criminalisation of Peaceful Protest' with a panel of activists from Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil, and the Palestine movements

Dec 24 - 'The Climate Crisis in South Africa and Zimbabwe' with Catherine Mahandu, Field Researcher

Jan 25 - 'International Conflict and Climate Change' with Extinction Rebellion activists facing trial for action around Telford Arms Fair

Feb 25 - 'Non-Violent Direct Action Training' with Extinction Rebellion Trainers

Mar 25 - 'Aviation, Sustainability, and Flight-Free Travel' with Anna Hughes from Flight Free UK

Apr 2025 - No Cafe in April due to Easter

May 2025 - 'Climate Poetry Workshop' with local poet and eclological activist, Laura Hackett

Jun 2025 - 'Plant Alchemy: Botanical Inks and Composting' with Carolyn Morton, Compost Coordinator at Birmingham Friends of the Earth and freelance artist

Jul 25 - 'Resilience and wellbeing practices for climate activists: connecting to purpose in a changing world' with Jane Charlesworth of We Got to Move.

Aug 25 - No Climate Cafe - it's a time for rest and recuperation!

Sep 25 - 'Drawing on Data' with Megan Wakefield. A visual arts workshop.

Oct 25 - 'The Warehouse Retrofit Tour 'with Karen Leach, CEO of Birmingham Friends of the Earth.

Nov 25 - No Climate Cafe this month.

Dec 25 - 'Climate Fresk Workshop' with Madeleleine van Wassenhove.

Jan 26 - 'Sustainability and the future of AI in Communications' with Ryan Johnson, Lecturer and Founding Director of ZOOZLY

Feb 26 - 'Home heating decarbonisation and the shape of the energy transition' with Lewis Bowick, Local Energy Transition Consultant for Energy Systems Catapult