Sitting on the last train back to Norwich from London Liverpool Street, having visited the Royal Geographic Society as guests of Explorer’s Against Extinction, I was reflecting on an incredible evening of talks from Philip Dalton, the man behind boulder cam and the other animatronic cameras, the Manta Trust and the Rwanda Conservation Trust.
It seems this is the perfect time to reflect on the impact of Dippy’s visit to Norwich which, having been delayed a year, coincided very nicely with COP26.
Talking to the wonderful and environmentally motivated U6 pupils on the trip it is clear that the mood in the School is changing, and fast. The link between Dippy and climate change is undeniable. Climate change drives evolution and therefore extinction. The assembly by Professor Jeff Price, organised after a talk held in the shadow of Dippy in the nave, brought home that a planet 6 degrees warmer than today is not a planet we want to be living on. He stressed that even an increase of 3 degrees would lead to a severe impact on human life across the globe.
It is clear action is needed now. Waiting until 2030, 2040, 2050 when the deadlines for the targets are up not an option. The effect of our lifestyles now will already lead to at least a 1.5 - 2 degree increase in average temperature, even with all the pledges made at COP26 brought into effect over the next few years. I sense that the spin-off from Dippy is a renewed vigour amongst the pupil and staff body to do more in the School to help tackle this and make our community carbon neutral.
I also feel that the mood is one of optimism and not despair at what we are doing to the planet. Talking to staff, they are switching lights off more if there is no one in the room, making an impact starts with the individual, but it takes local, national and global communities to tackle the size of the crisis we now face.
Professor Price set his 3rd year students a task to investigate how UEA could become carbon neutral by 2030. Can Norwich School look to replicate this in Cathedral Close? Can we afford not to? We have old buildings but that is not an excuse for inaction. On 25 November the Green Group Scrutiny Committee on the School’s eco-performance takes place at 4:15pm in Room F1; all are welcome to ask senior leaders in the School what the plans are to reduce the School’s carbon footprint and share ideas.
Our U6 pupils are adamant that they now want to see action, not just words. They want a concrete plan which will be followed to make Norwich School a beacon for sustainability in the East and beyond. Dippy’s visit has provided a catalyst for discussion. Whilst not even the wonderful green Dippy footprints remain in the main Close as a reminder of the visit, the aim now must be to ensure that the self-reflection we have done about our impact on the planet does not go the same way, and we are not just creating more hot air through talk but putting in place a realistic and attainable action plan to reduce it.
With thanks to Bill Smith and Norwich Cathedral for the stunning image of Dippy which accompanies this blog.