Photo: A snapshot of the litter problem on the Little Caldew in Carlisle, April 21

On November 5, the delegates at Cop26 will debate the importance of empowering the public to limit the effects of climate change. This is at the heart of our current Act for Eden campaign that calls on everyone, young and old, to make a small change to their everyday life that will have a big impact on the health of rivers and the planet.

We’re calling on everyone to make a promise to Act for Eden now!

Sam, our Marketing and Communications Manager who is leading the Act for Eden campaign for the trust explains:

“The way we live our lives is harming one of the things we rely on, but often take for granted – clean water and healthy rivers. They’re essential for food, leisure, health and well-being, yet we’re putting their future at risk by polluting them, turning them into rubbish dumps and treating clean water as an infinite resource. The photo at the top of this page was taken in April this year on the Little Caldew at Carlisle – sadly this problem is widespread along Eden’s rivers and this litter will end up flowing out to sea and/or breaking up an being eaten by wildlife. 

Whilst we’re calling on governments at Cop26 to clean up their act when it comes to rivers, it’s also down to each and everyone one of us too.

It’s easy to carry on our daily lives without thinking too deeply about the small things we use or do every day, such as buying drinks that come in single use plastic bottles, flushing wet wipes down the loo or leaving the tap on whilst brushing our teeth.

We’re asking everyone to stop and take a fresh look at their daily routine with the climate crisis in mind as you’ll be surprised at the number of quick, simple things you can change now that our rivers, nature and future generations will thank you for!”