Welcome to your September WCA newsletter featuring: Heatwave 2026 – How hot was it? Jackdaw Gas Field approval imminent – Oil licences explained People’s Emergency Briefing – New local screening dates announced Listening Cafe – Share your concerns on 3rd October Biodiversity Recording – How to join in Heathrow Expansion – It’s impact on our lives Wanstead Festival – WCA community engagement International Repair Day – Wanstead library Saturday October 17th Next Repair Cafe – Saturday November 14th Recommended listen – Ten Fights That Made the Green Movement Monthly WCA Meeting – Monday 19th October, Wanstead House 7.30pm |
| How Hot was summer 2026? |
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| Undeniably very. Hot enough to melt the tarmac in IG8, and as we approach the end of September we are still experiencing well above averge temperatures as summer is in its final throes. The Environment Agency cite “at least seven months of relentless rain is needed to end drought”. So it remains to be seen if the Godzilla” El Niño will bring a wetter, warmer, and increasingly stormy autumn and early winter to the UK as 2026 comes to an end. |
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| “The public conversation needs to catch up with the science. If we are serious about limiting future warming, we must rapidly reduce fossil fuel emissions while making our homes, infrastructure and communities more resilient to the climate change that is already here”. Hayley Fowler, Professor of Climate Change Impacts at University of Newcastle and Ed Hawkins, Professor of Climate Science at University of Reading |
| Stop Jackdaw |
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| WCA members joined Fossil Free London on 5th September in protest at Parliament Square, following the news that the Jackdaw gas field off the coast of Aberdeen was to be approved imminently. A decision has yet to be made, with an announcement now expected after the 8th October crucial by-election in Holborn and St Pancras. |
| Oil licences explained |
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| Energy policy, and specifically the future of the North Sea is a clear dividing line between the main political parties, and the licensing structure confuse the benefits – if any. Uplift works with policy-makers, parliamentarians, academics and campaigners, and undertakes research, analysis and campaigning to support a rapid and fair transition away from oil and gas production in the UK. |
| People’s Emergency Briefing |
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| St John’s Church, Leytonstone, are hosting a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing on Saturday 10th October at 11.00 am |
| There’s another screening on 10th October in Highams Park at 2.30pm |
| Climate Cafe Listening Circle |
| Liz Bodycote has been bringing people together to talk about their fears for the environment and what we stand to lose at her regular Climate Cafes held at the Quaker meeting House in Wanstead. Book into the next meeting on Saturday 3rd October 10.30 til 12.00 |
| Biodiversity recording – How to get involved |
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| It is essential that we record Redbridge wildlife, plants, insects, birds and mammals so that we can see trends. Noting what we have combined with working management leads to a proper understanding of our biodiversity and helps to protect sites from the wrong development. Even the common species need recording – what is common now may be rare tomorrow, and data trends will show this. Please consider using the iNaturalist app and urging your nature observing friends to do so. This Lesser Stag Beetle was spotted by the River Roding and moved to a safer place. |
| Heathrow Airport expansion |
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| If you’ve ever indulged in Flight Radar, you will appreciate how fascinating it is. However, flying is set to become the UK’s largest source of carbon emissions by 2040, and proposed airport expansion is totally reckless in the middle of a climate crisis, risking us not meeting our climate targets. The last thing our fragile climate needs is a third runway at Heathrow. An increase to 750,000 flights a year worsens air and pollution, harms local communities and negatively impacts nature. |
| Wanstead Festival 2026 |
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| It was a busy day on the WCA stall at the Festival on Sunday 13th September. Thank you to everyone that made it happen – the gazebos, chairs, leaflets, banners and succulent planters. Loads of good conversations flowed about what we can all be doing that will help our wellbeing as the effects of climate change become more evident in our lives. |
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| International Repair Day 17th October |
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| In annual celebration of everyone who makes repairs happen in their communities around the world, join WCA at Wanstead Library on Saturday 17th October 2pm til 4pm. Find us amongst the books! Our volunteers will be underaking mini repairs of electricals, sewing and jewellery. |
| Next Repair Cafe – Saturday 14th November |
| We love seeing the positive impact our Repair Cafes have within the Wanstead community. Bring your broken electricals and holey jumpers to Christchurch on the Green and see if our expert fixers can save it from landfill. |
| Recommended environmental podcast |
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| There are ten episodes in this series. Perhaps the most nailbiting one is Brokenhagen. It’s COP25, the UN Climate Change conference. Hundreds of world leaders are gathered in Copenhagen, 2009, with high hopes of securing a historic climate deal. The Chinese premier has gone missing. US President Obama rushes through the corridors of the conference centre – on a mission to gatecrash China’s secret rendez-vous with its allies. |
| Final bits |
| Take action against Rosebank oilfield here. If you’ve any thoughts or comments or have time to answer lots of questions, please complete our in-depth survey. Thanks for all you do! |
