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Given this month's focus on water, CSCEN's Finn Shillitto  and  Cara Burke  take you through what a drought is, and what steps you can take to mitigate the impacts. Photograph by Glyn Baker , distributed under a   CC-BY 2.0 license . The sun is out in full force and summer is well and truly here, but our water reserves are feeling the brunt of this hot weather. Our taps might run 24/7, but water isn’t infinite. Droughts are becoming more common, and they can cause big headaches for our communities, wildlife and the planet. Here’s a quick, friendly guide to what’s happening, why you should care and how you can save every drop. What is a drought? A drought happens when rainfall stays well below average for weeks, months, or even years. Some droughts roar in like a scorching, arid summer, whilst others creep up over multiple seasons, quietly draining rivers and reservoirs. Either way, droughts can harm crops and deplete our drinking-water sources, damage habitats and stress wildlife, and bring health risks for vulnerable people. Scientists do not know if the current prolonged dry weather is linked to climate change, but with climate change we can expect more extreme weather events globally and more, and longer, periods of dry weather in the UK which will exacerbate drought. Why it matters right now In the North West of England, a drought was declared on 29 May , after the driest spring in 69 years. Parts of Wales saw just 37% of expected rainfall in the past 3 months. Rivers and public water supply reservoirs are low, soil moisture levels are decreased significantly, and wildfire incidents are on the rise. The Environment Agency monitors, reports and acts to reduce the impacts of drought. In response to the current conditions, they convened the National Drought Group in May and took forward the following key actions : Enhanced monitoring of river, groundwater and reservoir levels Close coordination with water companies to implement statutory drought plans when necessary Enforcement of water abstraction licence compliance Environmental incident response for low river flows Management of water transfers Publication of irrigation forecasts for the agricultural sector Preparing guidance for fishery operators Check Your Region Curious how your corner of the UK is faring? Explore the interactive drought map from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology’s Hydrological Data Service: UK Water Resources Portal . Who’s Most at Risk? Drought doesn’t just affect rivers, it impacts people too. Those most vulnerable include: Older adults & young children People with physical or mental health conditions Homeless people Anyone working or exercising outdoors It is important, in a drought, to stay informed of restrictions from your local water company. Vulnerable consumers can contact their water company to register on their Priority Services Register (PSR) to get extra help and support on the event of a drought. More advice is available here. Top Tips to Save Water (and Money!) Whether we’re in a drought or not, small changes add up. Try these today: Turn off taps  – Brushing your teeth or shaving? Stop the flow, it wastes up to 6 litres a minute . Swap baths for short showers  – Showers generally use far less water than baths, especially if you keep it under 5 minutes. Reuse water where possible  – That rinse water from veggies? Capture and use it to water the garden. Fix leaks & upgrade cisterns  – An old toilet can use 13 litres per flush . Modern ones use 6 litres  or less. Run full loads only  – Washing machines and dishwashers are most efficient when full—always pick the eco  mode. Stay informed  – Check your water company’s website  and local news for the latest drought alerts and advice. What You Can Do Next? Adopt one new water saving habit this week Sign up for your local water provider’s updates Each drop counts. Together, we can protect ourselves as best as possible against drought and safeguard our water future. Contribute to the CSCEN Blog  If you're interested in contributing to the CSCEN Blog, get in touch with us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We'd love to hear your ideas!

Meet the team behind the UK's largest civil service environmental network CSCEN volunteer at the CSCEN Conference 2025 talking to attendees The Civil Service Climate and Environment Network (CSCEN) is thrilled to announce our presence at Civil Service Live 2025 ! This summer, we're bringing our passion for environmental action to venues across the UK, offering you the chance to discover how you can make a difference through our network. Why Visit Our Stall? Civil Service Live represents a unique opportunity to connect face-to-face with CSCEN committee members who are driving climate and environmental initiatives across government. Whether you're already working in environmental policy or simply interested in making your workplace more sustainable, our team will be ready to: Share information about our regular events, including talks from world-class speakers Discuss our professional development opportunities, including our popular shadowing scheme Connect you with like-minded colleagues across departments Help you discover ways to incorporate sustainability into your role Answer your questions about membership and getting involved Where to Find Us We'll be at the following Civil Service Live events: Tuesday 10 June: SEC, Glasgow Wednesday 25 June: Utilita Arena, Cardiff Wednesday 2 July: Sports Central, Northumbria University, Newcastle Tuesday 8 & Wednesday 9 July: ExCeL, London Tuesday 15 July: ACC, Liverpool As the government's flagship learning conference, Civil Service Live brings together thousands of colleagues to share knowledge, develop skills, and celebrate our collective achievements. In an era where climate action is increasingly central to government priorities, CSCEN's presence at these events reflects our commitment to supporting the civil service in meeting environmental challenges.

In our latest guest article, Tess Marczewski-Newman from the International Environment Negotiations Evidence team in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) discusses the importance of education as highlighted in the new IPBES Transformative Change Assessment. Education in the IPBES Transformative Change Assessment Nearly 150 Governments came together in December last year to approve an ambitious new assessment on the need for transformative change to halt and reverse biodiversity loss globally.  The new Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES, known as the ‘IPCC for biodiversity’) report  highlights the need for transformative change – which refers to fundamental, systemic shifts in attitudes, values, structures, and practices to reshape how society interacts with nature – to tackle global environmental challenges and crises. A key element in achieving this transformative change is education, particularly among young people, who play a crucial role in a positive future for nature.  The IPBES assessment emphasises that tackling the biodiversity crisis requires us to rethink the structures that govern human interactions with the natural world. Education is key to this process, as it empowers individuals with the knowledge, skills, and motivation needed to engage in sustainability and biodiversity conservation efforts. Education can foster an understanding of the intrinsic value of nature, promoting a shift from viewing biodiversity merely as a resource, to recognising it as something that humans are part of, and that we need to exist in harmony with.  Shifting views, values, practices and paradigms can be achieved through education across all levels, by formal and informal means, to promote the responsibility we have for nature, and strengthen the connection humans have with nature - including through  increasing awareness of alternative views of nature and Indigenous and local knowledge.   Formal education systems Firstly, the report highlights ways that biodiversity and sustainability can be integrated into formal education systems worldwide. By embedding biodiversity and conservation knowledge, and sustainable practices in curricula at all levels, the assessment explains that young people can develop a more profound connection to the natural world, and this can encourage them to take active roles in protecting biodiversity. Universities, colleges, trade schools and apprenticeships can offer training for future work forces in sustainability, regenerative agriculture, forestry, design and finance, as well as training in empathy and compassion, nature appreciation, and systems thinking. This develops capabilities to address multiple, intersecting environmental challenges.  Informal learning Going beyond the classroom, the IPBES assessment emphasises that education should also include informal learning experiences that allow young people to engage directly with nature, and help shift perceptions and values. Conservation projects and community-based initiatives can provide practical, real-world opportunities for young individuals to contribute to biodiversity conservation. These experiences, in addition to social and emotional learning, help to deepen understanding of the issues and can inspire long-term commitment to protecting the environment.    Young people in policy and decision-making In addition to formal and informal education, the report demonstrates evidence that young people’s involvement in policy and decision-making processes is crucial for transformative change. The assessment underscores the importance of fostering an inclusive, participatory approach to biodiversity governance to ensure all voices are represented. Within this, amplifying youth voices to have greater influence on policymaking could challenge both short-term thinking and the concentration of power.   Young people as agents of change Young people , the report goes onto explain,  can also play an important role in the transformative change process though being powerful agents of change in society. The rise of youth-led movements, such as the global Fridays for Future initiative, highlights the growing engagement of young people in advocating for urgent action to address climate change and nature loss. These movements demonstrate the ability of young people to mobilise, raise awareness, and place pressure on governments and corporations.  By equipping young people with the knowledge and tools to understand and address biodiversity loss through various forms of education, we can ensure that future generations are motivated, prepared and equipped to protect nature.  If you’d like to know more about IPBES’ activities, including upcoming assessments (including the Business and Biodiversity Assessment; and the Biodiversity Monitoring Assessment, or information about the next Meeting of IPBES being hosted by the UK in 2026), please join our  mailing list .  Contribute to the CSCEN Blog If you're interested in contributing to the CSCEN Blog, get in touch with us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We'd love to hear your ideas!

We represent a group of civil servants from a wide variety of backgrounds. Our mission is to build climate and environment knowledge and policy capability across the Civil Service. CSCEN August Discussion Group: Driving Change - Transport and Travel for the Future Wed 20 Aug Microsoft Teams More info Register CSCEN/Science and Technology Network August Talk/Lunch-and-Learn: Travel and Transport - Moving Towards a Greener Future Tue 26 Aug Microsoft Teams More info Register About Upcoming Events Podcasts Volunteering Champions Network Training

Big title here Sell yourself here....... The environment? Nature? Climate change? Sustainability? Net Zero? And plenty more in between? You have come to the right place.... Big title here Sell yourself here....... The environment? Nature? Climate change? Sustainability? Net Zero? And plenty more in between? You have come to the right place.... Add a box for quick links here.... Policy Profession OpenLearn One UN Climate Change Learning Partnership more intro text here...... Get some some self-paced free training that will fit around your schedule. We have a list of some of the best resources available but if you know of any others, let us know: environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . Jump straight to the free providers to explore yourself or keep reading to review our course recommendations. Main Body Text Here Blah.....We have a list of some of the best resources available but if you know of any others, let us know: environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . Jump straight to the free providers to explore yourself or keep reading to review our course recommendations. Emphasize a point with a quote or add a picture here. This is a paragraph. Use this area to add any information you want to share with users. Just click "Edit Text" or double click here to change the text and make it your own. You can also adjust the paragraph's font, size and color so it fits your website’s theme. This is a great place to tell users a story about your website and let them know more about what you offer. You may want to share information about your company's background, your team, or the services you provide. Be sure to keep the tone and voice consistent throughout the site so users become familiar with your brand.

Civil Service Climate + Environment Conference FAQs Mail Conference Home Tickets How do I get a ticket? Registration remains open for virtual attendance only. To register you must be a registered CSCEN member. How much are tickets? All tickets are free. Do I need to sign up for individual sessions? No, we will not be running sign up for individual sessions. By registering for a ticket you will be able to attend any sessions (subject to capacity in person) for the duration of your ticket (i.e. morning, afternoon or all day). Where is my ticket? You will have received your electronic ticket via email from notifications@wixevents.com (you may need to check your junk/spam folders). If you have not received your ticket, please contact us. I have the online link but it’s not working? We’re sorry you’re having access difficulties! Please try using the link on a personal device or, if the problem persists, please email environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . I have a ticket for attending in London or at a satellite location but can’t make it. Can I watch online? Yes, online tickets are still available until the end of the conference. Please use this link to register and online access will be sent to you: https://www.civilserviceenvironmentnetwork.org/conference-home Speakers and stallholders I want to speak at the conference. How can I get a speaker slot? We are no longer accepting applications to present at the conference. Thank you to all those who applied. I want to hold a stall at the conference. How can I get one? We are not accepting any more applications to be stallholders at present. Thank you to all those who applied. Partners I would like to support the conference, how do I go about doing this? If you would like to partner with us to deliver this conference, please email us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . Volunteers I want to help organise the conference. How can I get involved? Volunteer positions to help in London and at satellite locations have now been filled. If you are still interested then please email us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We suggest you also register as an attendee in the meantime as we may not be able to accept any more volunteers. Programme Where can I find the programme? The programme, including a full agenda is available here. General What is a satellite viewing party? A satellite viewing party is where participants gather at a different location to the main conference to watch live broadcasts of conference sessions. This allows people who can't attend the main event in-person to still participate and engage with the content and other attendees. Will the conference be recorded? Most sessions will be recorded and will be made available to CSCEN members after the conference.