Survey of CovCAN Members

In November 2022 a survey was conducted among members of Coventry Climate Action Network to answer the question: 

Should CovCAN join Friends of the Earth’s new network?

3 members responded. All of them voted Yes

Their reasons were:

• Coventry Climate Action Network and Friends of the Earth have the same motives so ought to help each other.
• Friends of the Earth is a funded organization with proper resources and brand.
• A coordinated approach is needed to send very strong messages to government regarding climate change. Much more action is needed. This action should address  and involve more legislation. Only by a change in law can we see efforts to ensure carbon emissions are lowered.

Other comments

I think Covcan need to be more proactive in its efforts, maybe reorganise and implement strategies that speak volume;

Ditch the name, Coventry Climate Action Network and bring it under the umbrella term, Friends of the Earth. That would be much easier to find.

Future of CovCAN

Everyone who responded to the survey thinks we should become part of the Friends of the Earth network.

Friends of the Earth Local Action Group Charter

To join the grassroots network, every group must read and sign a new group charter. A draft version of this charter can be found at https://covcan.uk/friends-of-the-earth-local-action-group-charter/ 

Which type of group?

There are 2 ways that this merger can happen: 

Either continue with the current name “Coventry Climate Action Network”

This received 1 vote. We could continue using our original name. We are not expected to adopt the Friends of the Earth name.  However we must read and sign a new group charter. See above.

Or disband CovCAN and form a new FoE Coventry group

This received 2 votes. To do this we must read and sign the group charter and also a trademark licence agreement.

Decision Required

The survey did not produce a clear decision on which type of group to form. This decision needs to be made before any other action can be taken.

Compliance with Local Action Group Charter

Philip Brown, who currently manages the CovCAN website, is unable to invest the time and energy which he believes is necessary to comply with the Local Action Group Charter. Such a group would require several active participants, for example to produce financial records, coordinate with other local groups, run active campaigns, hold regular meetings that new members can attend and so on.

Therefore people will be required who will take active roles in the new group.

Web Presence

What should happen to this CovCAN website? It contains over 700 pages of information and over 170 subscribers to its newsletter.

CovCAN website already listed on Friends of the Earth website

If you enter a Coventry postcode at https://friendsoftheearth.uk/take-action/join-group-near-you you will find a link to a page that is headed Coventry Climate Action Network and claims to have a form allowing people to contact us. But it does not carry a link to this website.

Unofficial Coventry Friends of the Earth page

Note that there is already a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/522537987955030/ that claims to be Coventry Friends of the Earth

However, it is not recognised on the FoE list of local groups at https://friendsoftheearth.uk/near-me?postcode=cv1 

This currently lists the following groups:

• Coventry Climate Coalition
• Coventry Climate Action Network
• Be the Change
• Leamington and Warwick Friends of the Earth

Feedback

Please add your comments in the box at the foot of this page or email covcanuk@gmail.com

Note

This website is maintained and paid for by the United Nations Association Coventry Branch.