With water everywhere, flooded homes and fields under water this past winter, it is clear that climate change has become much more real and causing more concern.

Following Rotary International’s greater emphasis on the importance of the environment, Falmouth Rotary Club in Cornwall felt that by recreating its previous climate exhibition in a more central part of town it could give people an understanding of what various organisations were doing and what individuals could do to reduce the rate of change.

It would also be an opportunity to show ‘Rotary at work’ in a positive way.

The exhibition was held at the Falmouth Polytechnic in three parts. The downstair gallery was used to show the crisis that is facing the planet and a pathway for individuals to follow to reduce this rate of change.

Videos showing Rotary working with the plastic problem created in the Motagua River in Guatamala were on display as were photos of Falmouth Rotary Club’s own water, sanitation and hygiene project in Uganda.

The exhibition also highlighted the Rotary club’s campaign to support Falmouth’s hospital get a robotic surgical device to treat internal disorders more swiftly and effectively.

The theatre upstairs had presentations on clean oceans, attended by four primary schools, the Local Area Action Plan of Cornwall Council, Farming for Net Zero and the Economics of Climate Change. Carbon Frisk also held a two-hour session to understand climate change which was very effective.

The main exhibition featured 20 stands representing water, waste and wildlife; the activities of our local councils, the harbour authority and the Environment Agency; local community groups promoting clean energy, insulation, better eating and keeping the seas clean.

There was plenty of positive feedback to the exhibition from the Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor Kirstie Edwards, who said: “Thanks so much for all you have done. It was a brilliant event. I am really proud of Rotary for getting behind these issues. It is so important we work together for the planet and health.”

There was also praise following the event from the Town Council’s Environment Office and Carbon Savvy.

The exhibitors enjoyed the opportunity for discussion with their colleagues on what was working and what could be improved. Most would come again.

The four schools had a great time at the presentations and the most successful part was a two-hour presentation on climate change by Climate Frisk at the end.

For Rotary, the organisation’s actions in the community were appreciated, with four Cornish Rotary clubs involved, as several people looked at the various forms of Rotary which will be followed up and the club gained two potential members.

The relationships and credibility which Falmouth Rotary Club has built over the years made it easy to fill the stands with the people and organisations we felt were relevant to the objective.