Community action/Greenwich
The aim of this page is to recognise, celebrate and encourage the self-empowerment of community agency networks (CANs) and community groups' activism for climate, environment and many other sustainability topics across Greenwich.
News
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How a London energy co-op is trying to bring power to the people, thenews.coop (Feb 06, 2026) — We speak to Giovanna Speciale, CEO of South East London Community Energy, about its work towards an inclusive transition- All hands to the pumps: the colourful rise of community-owned pubs, positive.news (Mar 05, 2024)
- Greenwich: Closed pub reopens as community hub, BBC News (Dec 15, 2023)
- The expansion of Heathrow would be an expensive disaster for Britain and the world. Burnham needs to block it, George Monbiot, theguardian.com (Oct 03, 2026) — A third runway would fly in the face of reason. If we are to prioritise human life over short-term ‘growth’, we need to use planes less, not more
- How London’s low emissions zone is helping children breathe easier, positive.news (Sep 01, 2026)
- Call for right to grow food on unused public land, BBC News (Aug 14, 2026) — Campaigners have called on City Hall to introduce a London-wide "Right to Grow" framework to help communities turn unused public land into food gardens
- A growing movement for perennials could play a key role in future food security, wickedleeks.riverford.co.uk (Oct 08, 2026) — In the wake of this summer’s drought and rising energy costs, there is renewed interest in perennial crops
- Hospital appointments can make greener travel harder, theconversation.com (Oct 08, 2026)
- The expansion of Heathrow would be an expensive disaster for Britain and the world. Burnham needs to block it, George Monbiot, theguardian.com (Oct 03, 2026) — A third runway would fly in the face of reason. If we are to prioritise human life over short-term ‘growth’, we need to use planes less, not more
- Hunter Valley community group wins landmark high court climate change case over coalmine, theguardian.com (Oct 07, 2026) — Ruling on Mount Pleasant coalmine shows ‘we cannot continue to dig up coal … and pretend the consequences have nothing to do with us’, group says
- Citizens need to power Europe's future, demnext.substack.com (Oct 02, 2026) — The EU can enable new democratic institutions: in European countries; with a European Citizens’ Assembly as a 4th branch of government, and by legally enforcing the Global Citizens’ Assembly on AI, Claudia Chwalisz and Another Democratic Future
- Fifty Billion Seedlings: Can Ethiopia Replant Its Ravaged Forests?, e360.yale.edu (Oct 01, 2026)
Networks and sustainability initiatives
[edit | edit source]- Care & Climate, a new cultural space - "a transitions space for holding communities in the now to the next, space for staying with the trouble (a phrase borrowed from Donna J. Haraway) and to be in solidarity with one another." added 10:31, 7 December 2022 (UTC)
CDC video
[edit | edit source]Each week 3 different short videos from across the UK or world.
Community action/United Kingdom/Cycling activism, Community action/South East England/Saving water / ...This week's featured Global videos / ... read more about Cosmolocalism
UK and international events
[edit | edit source]UK events
Oct 1 - 7, 2026 (Thu - Wed) — National Vegetarian Week, discover delicious dishes and see how a veggie diet is a great choice for the planet, nationalvegetarianweek.org- Oct 04, 2026 (Sun) — Homeless Sunday, housingjustice.org.uk
- Oct 18, 2026 (Sun) — Church Action on Poverty Sunday, taking place each year on the Sunday closest to the International Day for the Eradication on Poverty, church-poverty.org.uk
Global or international events
- Oct 01, 2026 (Thu) — World Vegetarian Day, Oct 1 each year, bringing awareness to the ethical, environmental, health, and humanitarian benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle, worldvegetarianday.navs-online.org
- Oct 02, 2026 (Fri) — International Day of Non-Violence, observed each year on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, un.org
- Oct 07, 2026 (Wed) — World Day for Decent Work, October 7 is the World Day for Decent Work, ituc-csi.org
- Oct 10, 2026 (Sat) — World Mental Health Day, Oct 10, annually, wmhdofficial.com
- Oct 10, 2026 (Sat) — World Homeless Day, Oct 10 each year, drawing attention to homeless people’s needs locally and provide opportunities for the community to get involved in responding to homelessness, worldhomelessday.org
- Oct 10, 2026 (Sat) — World Migratory Bird Day, worldmigratorybirdday.org
- Oct 13, 2026 (Tue) — International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, Oct 13, annually, promoting a global culture of natural disaster reduction, including prevention, mitigation, and preparedness, un.org
- Oct 16, 2026 (Fri) — World Food Day, celebrated every year around the world on 16 October, often with a focus on food security, fao.org
- Oct 17, 2026 (Sat) — International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Oct 17 each year, honouring victims of poverty, hunger, violence and fear, with participation by the poorest of people an important aspect of the observance of the Day, un.org
- Oct 17, 2026 (Sat) — International Repair Day, annual celebration for everyone who makes repair happen in their communities around the world. "Repair for Everyone"., openrepair.org
2021-2030, UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, International community action events
Community resources
[edit | edit source]- The Star of Greenwich, community owned pub in the heart of East Greenwich, added 18:48, 10 March 2024 (UTC)
Climate action
[edit | edit source]- Carbon Neutral Greenwich, "sets out what we need to do to reach carbon neutral by 2030 under seven key themes", consultation process ends March 7, added 18:02, 22 January 2021 (UTC)
- Declaration in response to the climate emergency, royalgreenwich.gov.uk, June 2019
Greenwich Students' Union is the university's students' union. In October 2019, the GSU Student Assembly voted to ask the university to declare a climate emergency and for the university and union sustainability strategies to consult with students in creating them. This call to action aimed to speed up the university's efforts at becoming carbon neutral. W
Cycling activism
[edit | edit source]- E-Z Cycle electric bike loan scheme Royal Borough of Greenwich
The Thames Path Cycle Route is a black-signposted route that follows the river between Putney Bridge in the west and Greenwich in the east. It mostly follows the Thames Path, but diverges in various sections, especially where the path follows a footpath-only route. It also links National Cycle Route 1 (east of London) with National Cycle Route 4 (west of London). W
Education for sustainability
[edit | edit source]- Sustainability: University of Greenwich, @Sust_Greenwich
Open spaces
[edit | edit source]- Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park TCV
The Royal Borough of Greenwich has over fifty parks and open spaces within its boundaries. The Green Chain W, a linked series of linear and circular walks, include some of those open spaces within Greenwich. The Chain originates at three points along the River Thames and stretches to Crystal Palace Park. Greenwich is a riverside borough, and one of the largest open spaces is the Thames itself, forming the northern boundary of the borough. A sign posted riverside trail W forms a walkway for both pedestrians and cyclists. W
News archive
[edit | edit source]- Greenwich: Closed pub reopens as community hub, BBC News (Dec 15, 2023)
- Revealed: the UK’s ‘best’ new buildings, positive.news (Oct 23, 2023)
- "What if the only important work left is to care for each other and care for the planet?" asks Greenwich's Care + Planet, The Daily Alternative (Dec 01, 2022)
2016-2021
- The activist entrepreneurs running zero-waste shops, Aug 6, 2021...bbc.co.uk/news
- London's first cycling Quietway officially opens from Greenwich to Waterloo, Jun 14, 2016...road.cc
About Greenwich
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The Royal Borough of Greenwich ( , , or ) is a London borough in southeast Greater London, England. The London Borough of Greenwich was formed in 1965 by the London Government Act 1963. The new borough covered the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich and most of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich to the east. The local council is Greenwich London Borough Council which meets in Woolwich Town Hall.
The Royal Borough of Greenwich is a large borough covering almost 50 km², approximately 19.3 miles, and containing a broad mix of historic, suburban, and rapidly redeveloping districts. It includes the Greenwich Town and Park, the site of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Maritime Greenwich which encompasses the Prime Meridian, the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark, and the former Royal Naval College. Also in the borough, Greenwich Peninsula is known for The O2 Arena and river transport links; while Eltham is home to Eltham Palace. Other major neighbourhoods within the borough are Woolwich, a historic military and industrial centre now undergoing major regeneration; Shooter's Hill, noted for Severndroog Castle; and parts of Abbey Wood and Thamesmead in the east. The borough is also home to parts of Blackheath, Lee, Kidbrooke, Charlton, Plumstead, and Avery Hill, together forming a diverse urban area ranging from significant heritage districts and established residential suburbs to large waterfront redevelopment zones along the River Thames.
To mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II, the borough became a Royal Borough on 3 February 2012, due to its historic links with the Houses of Tudor and Stuart of the royal family. Greenwich was the seat of the Palace of Placentia which was built in the 15th century under the orders of Henry VI and Henry VII. It was the birthplace of Henry VIII, Mary I, and Elizabeth I, all of whom lived at the palace. The Queen's House was gifted to the queen consort Henrietta Maria in 1629 by Charles I. The Royal Observatory was commissioned in 1675 by Charles II.
External links
- Greenwich Council (local government)
| Authors | Phil Green |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
| Cite as | Phil Green (2019–2026). "Community action/Greenwich". Appropedia. Retrieved October 14, 2026. |