With Australia being ravaged by bushfires and protest movements regularly taking to the streets, climate change is more of a pressing issue than ever before.
You may be tempted, then, to get involved with climate activism this year - but it can be a struggle to work out where to start.
Thankfully there are a number of climate groups in Bristol who are always looking for volunteers, from protest movements such as Extinction Rebellion to local branches of organisations like Greenpeace.
With that in mind, here's some of the climate groups you can join in Bristol to help unleash your inner activist.
Extinction Rebellion
It's fair to say you've probably heard of Extinction Rebellion already.
Regardless of what you think of its methods, the group made headlines several times last year, particularly during an "unprecedented" five-day protest in Bristol.
The international movement uses non-violent civil disobedience to raise awareness of the climate emergency and employs a number of tactics including road blockades, sit-in protests and disrupting film premieres to name just a few.
It's stunts and the disruption they cause have sometimes been controversial in the past, so this particular brand of climate activism may not be for everyone.
However, if you're interested, you can find out more about how to get involved and attend its weekly meetings here.
Youth Strike 4 Climate
Last year, hundreds of school pupils took to the streets of Bristol nearly every month to protest against climate change .
Started by teenage activist Greta Thunberg in Sweden, the school strike for climate movement is now international and has inspired pupils in cities across the world.
In 2019, students in Bristol gathered in huge numbers, blocked roads in the city centre and rallied against expansion at Bristol Airport, all to protest for a world with less pollution.
The movement shows no signs of slowing down this year either, with a climate strike already planned for February 14.
You can find out more about how to get involved on the UK Student Climate Network website here .
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth is an international network of environmental groups spanning 74 countries and dozens of cities across the UK.
The branch in Bristol organises regular public meetings to discuss important issues, election hustings, and responses to various proposals put forward by local government.
The group has also taken part in rallies against climate change, such as the marches organised by Youth Strike 4 Climate.
You can find out more about the group and how to volunteer on its website here .
Check your carbon footprint:
Bristol Rising Tide
Bristol Rising Tide, the local branch of the nationwide Reclaim the Power network, has been rallying against the root causes of climate change and social injustice since 2007.
The group is part of the anti-fracking network in England and has supported communities opposed to new power stations in Lawrence Hill, open-cast coal mines in South Wales and the expansion of Bristol Airport.
Last year, activists from Rising Tide also attempted to prevent immigration raids from being carried out in Bristol.
You can find the group's Facebook page here.
Greenpeace
The Bristol branch of Greenpeace meets regularly on the second Thursday of each month to discuss campaigns, events and future plans.
Members of Greenpeace Bristol have previously taken part in climate change rallies and highlighted the plight of endangered animals at protests.
You can find out about current campaigns here.
Grandparents for a Safe Earth
A regular feature of the climate protests last year was the older generation getting involved to voice their support.
The Grandparents for a Safe Earth group are described as a "network of grandparents and elders who care deeply about the world our descendants will inherit" and "seek to co-operate and enter into dialogue with others."
They have previously been involved with Extinction Rebellion protests up and down the country.
You can find the group's website here.
City to Sea
City to Sea, based in Bristol, is a collaboration of scientists, marine biologists and campaigners who are working together to prevent plastic pollution at its source.
The organisation was founded by Natalie Fee, who was "equally fed up and generally devastated" by the amount of plastic littler flowing from Bristol into the Severn Estuary.
The team focuses on 'solutions-focused' initiatives to make a difference, such as encouraging people to single-use water bottles as part of its Refill campaign.
There are opportunities to volunteer with the organisation, which you can read about here.
Some other groups to consider:
- Bristol Clean Air Alliance
- Bristol Green Society
- Bristol Walking Alliance
- Fossil Free
- The Transport for Greater Bristol Alliance
- One By One Conservation
- People & Planet
- Socialist Environment and Resources Association
- Stop Hinkley
- Zero West
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