INTO CAN – Climate and Nature

Our next webinar is open to all as it’s a collaboration with Celebrate Islands.  This weeklong festival highlights the work of different people and organisations around the world caring for island environments.

INTO members from the Caribbean, North America, France and the UK will share their experiences, with a particular focus on how we communicate about our work to different audiences.

Telling the story of our work · 11 May 2023 · 1pm BST (GMT+1)

Chair: Clea Warner, the National Trust for Scotland’s Regional Director for the Highlands and Islands.

Speakers:

• Marta Ferretti, Project Manager, SMILO (Small Island Organisation)
• Farah Mukhida, Executive Director of the Anguilla National Trust
• Cynthia Dittbrenner, Director of Coast and Natural Resources, The Trustees (USA)
• Angela Cott, General Manager – Brownsea Island, National Trust (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)

Please register via this Zoom sign up link.

INTO CAN (Climate and Nature), is a knowledge-sharing programme that brings together INTO member organisations to share ideas and experiences in communicating about climate change. The initiative is a collaboration between INTO and the National Trust (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).

INTO CAN builds on the success of RISE, our Reimagining International Sites of Enslavement programme and responds to requests from our members. Those working in communications, campaigns and advocacy, and public engagement roles come together to share their experience.

INTO CAN comes together as a global network, learning from each other and sharing experiences and resources, so that we can develop joint solutions to common challenges.

It is a collaborative programme, where sessions and workshops are co-created by the participants, including such topics as:

• Developing joint climate-themed projects and campaigns
• Engaging and upskilling our staff and volunteers
• Working in partnership
• How to tell compelling climate stories
• Advocating about the climate crisis – how to engage elected officials and opinion formers

These discussions happen under the guidance of Joel Silver, Climate Campaigns Manager, National Trust and Catherine Leonard, INTO Secretary-General.

Participants take part in knowledge-sharing exchanges, alongside those at the forefront of research and practice in this area of the sector.  These are held virtually to enable global participation and reduce environmental impacts. Members of the group are also supported to apply for funding opportunities as part of the programme.

The launch event on 6 September 2022, was attended by around thirty INTO member organisations.  It was fascinating to hear about climate impacts in different parts of the world. And uplifting to hear that coming together to share experience was so welcomed.

We know that National Trusts around the world are involved in the preservation and reuse of old buildings, and the protection of important natural heritage. This activity is a vital part of the global fight against climate change. And the amazing heritage places we look after, have a unique role and opportunity to champion solutions to address the climate crisis. But there is always more to be done.

Many National Trusts are already doing amazing work to raise awareness of climate change and its impacts on nature, infrastructure and livelihoods. They are engaging people with issues such as food security, sea level rise, habitat destruction, invasive species, water usage and the condition of rivers and wetlands.

INTO members are embarking on new initiatives to address the climate crisis, some of which may not have been envisaged as part of their original purpose but which are really vital today: planting schemes – trees, mangroves and bushland; the development of solar and wind energy schemes; efforts to reduce waste; carbon offsetting schemes; sourcing sustainable products to sell in museum shops… the list goes on!

What is clear, is that INTO members want to become even better at telling compelling stories about their amazing work to mitigate, adapt and educate about climate change. Stories we can tell our staff and volunteers, the public, and policy makers and politicians. And we want to collect and present data that back up these narratives and create really powerful campaigns and advocacy cases.

Interested to know more? Please contact us for details of how to join.