Climate Ecological & Emergency Report September & October 2026

Report from the Climate & Ecological Emergency Committee, CEEC

Hello people of Woodbridge and beyond; people of the Deben estuary

Between the end of May and the middle of August, this summer the UK experienced six heatwaves. Some readers will be reassured hearing the new leadership at county council level have rescinded the 2019 declaration of a climate emergency this July - somewhere between the 4th and 5th summer heatwave.

Others may be interested to watch the "national emergency briefing' film - now showing at many a local church or community hall. And many might say, don't go on about that, I've already got too much on my plate to worry about (Understandable).

The film comprises the key summaries of multiple respected scientific government advisors presenting at a COBRA style security briefing for top government officials. It is a chilling presentation of accelerating, multiple interrelated crises and potential tipping points. The central government has steadfastly declined demands for this emergency briefing to be shared on prime-time TV (I guess it doesn't sit well with the "we're going to make things better" messaging).

And those scientists, local activists and environmentalists such as Chris Packham, have pushed to create a grassroots town by town, village by village presentation of the film followed by a discussion panel. Spoiler alert, this is not a film for people who prefer to bury their heads in the sand.

At the local level of politics, it was gratifying to note at our early October CEEC meeting that we are involved in both adaptive and mitigating actions addressing some of the major areas of concern highlighted in the film. The Town Council has partnerships and active collaborations with the Deben Climate Action and Transition Woodbridge, and the District Council. Community energy generation initiatives, community garden, and locally owned fresh food growing project, water harvesting and flood mitigation measures, biodiversity projects, overall Woodbridge Town Council estate resilience measures.  All of these on the agenda, in progress or in active discussion as possible future projects.

And hang on to your hats, folks! The effects of the super El Niño are just around the corner. More a natural earth rhythm, than a fossil fuel burning consequence, but the combined threats to climate stability over the winter will likely break new records. 

If we can kindly take care of ourselves and of our neighbours in equal measure, we will be contributing to a growing strength of community in our town, and that is perhaps the most important factor that we can attend to, to nurture, to grow, as we turn, collectively, to face our increasingly uncertain future.

Councillor Martin Wilks, CEEC
councillorwilks@woodbridge-suffolk.gov.uk

PS pass it on