Not all heroes wear capes…

As we hear more and more about the unprecedented changes to the earth’s climate, and the scale of the action that’s needed to negate these changes, it’s easy to fall into despair. 

Or we might find ourselves looking around, waiting and hoping that something or someone –  if you exist, climate superhero, this is your cue mate! – to come and solve this huge problem for us. 

But what if we forget the cape and consider instead what we have at our feet? What if we take charge and do something? What if we are the superheroes?  

At DEG (Datblygiadau Egni Gwledig) we believe in the power of people working together to create change and to make things happen. From the YnNi Padarn Peris renewable energy scheme, that uses water from Llanberis’s Afon Goch to generate green electricity, to Yr Orsaf in Penygroes powering their café, accommodation, and media centre with solar panels and batteries, we’ve worked alongside numerous communities who have taken their renewable energy dreams and made them a reality; turned an idea into a sustainable, community-owned, income-generating enterprise.

The Climate Cymru folk will be visiting five of these enterprises as part of their Tour of Wales this week – Y Dref Werdd in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Siop Griffiths in Penygroes, Cyd Ynni and Ynni Padarn Peris in Llanberis and Y Dyffryn Gwyrdd in Bethesda, travelling in DEG’s very first electric vehicle! 

GwyrddNi, our latest project, will be running on people power. Over the next two years GwyrddNi will bring together people in five communities across Gwynedd (in partnership with five social enterprises), to talk, listen, and learn more about climate change through citizens assemblies and other activities, before deciding how they – as individuals and communities – want to take action. 

If you live in Gwynedd and want to find out more about how to get involved with GwyrddNi get in touch via Post@DEG.cymru. We’d love to hear from you. 

So as we kick off the Great Big Green Week and with COP26 on the horizon, let’s harness this optimism and energy, let’s look around at the successes we can learn from and follow, and let’s head out into our communities to see what changes we can make. 

I’ve heard that not all heroes wear capes you know…

Grant Peisley
Director of DEG