A WEEK of education about the impacts of climate change will begin this weekend in West Dorset.

A series of events has been organised to teach both schoolchildren and adults on the effects of global warming.

It will start on Saturday, March 1 until March 6.

It has been organised by Dorset’s Communities Living Sustainably (CLS) group, with events for both schoolchildren and adults as the group also aims to show local communities sustainable food projects.

The campaign launches at Litton and Thorner’s Com-munity Hall, Litton Cheney, with an action-planning meeting on strengthening local food links in West Dorset.

Speakers including Tom Andrews of the new national Sustainable Food Cities Programme and Traci Lewis from Foods Plymouth who will share their experiences and advice for putting food at the heart of the local policy agenda.

On March 5 at schools in Bridport, pupils will meet with the CLS to discuss ideas for preparing for extreme weather and tackling climate change.

On the same day, in schools around Dorchester, the CLS will meet with pupils to launch a two-year initiative to lessen environmental impact and encourage environmental leadership in students.

On Thursday, March 6, the Bridport Arts Centre will host a ‘Focus On Energy’ film day, which will include movies on the evidence of climate change, energy efficiency in the home and a documentary with contributions from more than 50 politicians, scientists and environmental campaigners on the state of the planet and how to save it.

The highlight of the week will be a lecture delivered by former BBC weather forecaster and national icon Michael Fish, who gained notoriety when he famously played down the threat of a hurricane which hit Britain in 1987.

Called Climate Change – The Ultimate Weapon of Mass Destruction, Mr Fish will deliver dire warnings about the future impacts of global warming.

Mr Fish said: “There could be much more severe weather and floods in the UK. It is too late to do more than slow it. The South West can expect more floods and droughts. The only advantage will be a longer growing season.”

For more information on Climate Week 2014, the UK’s biggest campaign to promote action on climate change, go to www.climateweek.com