East Lothian-wide Vision for a Thriving, Sustainable Future
What will be happening in East Lothian in 2040 if we all did everything we could to tackle climate change and support nature to flourish?
What would it look like? How would it be different from now?
East Lothian Vision for a thriving, sustainable future in 2040
The East Lothian Climate Hub gathered ideas from hundreds of people across East Lothian on what the ‘East Lothian-wide Vision for a Thriving, Sustainable Future’ could be, imagining the year 2040.
You can read the Vision, a collation of 1000s imaginings from across East Lothian, here.
The vision as a story
This vision has been turned into a story by local storyteller Tim Porteus, which describes what life in Prestonpans could look like in 2040, from the perspective of a teenager.
Climate Creativity Collaboration: Student voices
Using the vision material, along with their own ideas and imagination, secondary school students in East Lothian have brought East Lothian in 2040 to life, creating art work, poetry, stories and more. A huge range of fantastic and inspiring climate creations were received.
Hear about the vision and students’ work through East Coast FM radio
Selection of student’s art work, poems and stories
Here is a selection of some of the inspiring students’ creations
‘Seeds of Freedom’ by Poppy Davidson-Kelly
‘A different world’ story by Aoife McGregor
New Dawn poem by Emily Westgarth and Karis Hutchison
A Greener Tomorrow poem by Isla Brodie
A Look into the Future poem by Nellie Parks
The World is going to be okay! Short story by Robyn Carter
Touring Exhibition: sharing the Vision and Student voices across East Lothian
The Vision and students’ work is now on a touring exhibition across East Lothian. You can find out more about dates and where it will be exhibited here
Extracts from the East Lothian-wide Vision
East Lothian is…. a happier place to be, with more nature, less traffic, peaceful, calm, hopeful, welcoming, safe, and nourished. The world feels smaller, with shorter journeys on foot or cycling, with local produce available and more emphasis on our communities and knowing our neighbours.
We have less but live more. We are working together and using the creativity that we collectively have to make the changes needed. We are less busy and better able to live sustainably. We care for and respect our environment.
We own less and share more : this is the norm – we borrow what we need, through our informal networks.
There are well paid green jobs and apprenticeships. Our high streets have local shops that people can afford.
I am looking on to community owned windmills, windpower, solar., local energy is produced. Buildings and houses have solar panels and are built / rebuilt in a way which makes them well insulated. We have community heating through a community owned local district heat network.
I can see and hear insects, bees and birdsong. There is a massive variety of tree / plant /wildflower hedgerow life brimming with insects and a massive array of birds, butterflies, hedgehogs, water vole, stoats, other water and land mammals. Endangered species are returning. Wildlife and biodiversity is buzzing everywhere: in our gardens, greenspaces, along streets, through our towns and countryside. Nature is busy and noisy.
The landscape is different, there have been deliberate decisions for wilder spaces for all our benefits. There are increased green spaces, more trees and space is dedicated to wildlife. Nature is returning on mass, is blossoming and is for everyone.