Activist in Herts says more could be done for the climate on a local level
A climate activist from Hertfordshire said more could be done locally to protect the climate
As COP28, will soon come to an end, a climate activist in Hertfordshire shared her thoughts with Greatest Hits Radio about the local impact of climate change.
The UN-led conference on the protection of the climate brought international leaders together in roundtable discussions in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Although the big talking points revolved around oil drillings and environmentally detrimental practices, an activist from St Albans was keen to point to both positive local change, and areas that could benefit from change.
Amanda Yorwerth, from Friends of the Earth, said: "We are kind of making headway, having repurposed clothes, preloved clothes, we are getting there."
"It's not that long ago we were recycling virtually nothing but now, over 50% of our waste in Hertfordshire is recycled."
"...people are very concerned about the climate, I have conversations with people who are very worried..."
For Ms Yorwerth, the most important step in climate protection is having the conversations with people.
From there, it's about individually making a positive change and encouraging others to do so too.
She said: "Across Hertfordshire and St Albans, people are very concerned about the climate, I have conversations with people who are very worried and they're very keen to protect the future of not just their children but future generations."
"It really brings into sharp focus just the importance of the climate, not just temperatures that we go outside to, but also for the production of our food, for the water that we drink."
"We are making progress but that's not to say that there isn't way more progress we need to make."
Whether it may be through recycling, understanding where food comes from, or second-hand shopping, Ms Yorwerth believes awareness to be key in making a positive change.
The county of Hertfordshire as a whole is increasingly becoming climate change-aware, and Ms Yorwerth told Greatest Hits Radio that international climate conferences help bring climate change into focus to push for local change.
She said: "When I used to commute to London there used to be a couple of bikes chained up at the station in St Albans, now you can expect five hundred to a thousand bicycles there everyday."
"We are making progress but that's not to say that there isn't way more progress we need to make."