Warwickshire News Mine

On this day last year the Chairman of the UK Sustainable Development Commission, Jonathon Porritt, launched Warwickshire Climate Change Partnership to more than 100 delegates representing the public, private and voluntary sectors.

These organisations are working on the basis that they must unite to effectively reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions through targeted actions in five key areas: transport; energy; resource efficiency; adaptation; and communications and education.

The partnership aims to work towards a target in Warwickshire to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 15-18 per cent by 2010 and a 60 per cent reduction by 2050 (against 1990 levels).

And in just 12 months a huge number of projects are underway in the county, including Warwickshire’s first political lead on climate change with former Warwickshire County Council Chairman Cllr Gordon Collett becoming Climate Change Champion.

He said: “There is a huge amount of activity in Warwickshire, whether it’s the simple things like ensuring homes have proper insulation to save wasting energy and money, to wind power in schools, solar power on buildings, or biomass heating projects.

“Warwickshire County Council will once again this year be repeating its Switch it Off campaign, urging people not to waste money and energy by leaving appliances on standby. If everyone in Warwickshire, Coventry and Worcestershire stopped leaving appliances on standby it would save more than £20 million, and 86,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, one of the main causes of climate change.”

Just some of the partnership projects have seen Rugby Borough Council start offering grants for renewable energy projects; BMW at Hams Hall host an event to warn of the changes to our natural environmental surroundings; and national body Freight Best Practice run a campaign in Warwickshire to try and stop drivers leaving trucks idling.

Another key project this week sees the launch of a partnership between Warwickshire County Council and Warwickshire-based charity Practical Action, to allow people in the county to compensate for their carbon emissions by donating money to directly help the people being hit by climate change with flooding and drought in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. More information is available at http://www.practicalaction.org

Dr Jacky Lawrence, Warwickshire County Council’s Strategic Energy Manager, said: “We have made great progress in a year and momentum just keeps on building. At the Royal Show this week there will be seminars every day with a climate change theme, and on Friday Ashlawn School in Rugby is looking to launch its new wind turbine.

“On Saturday the people of Warwickshire will be able to join the whole country to celebrate with pop music to raise awareness of climate change and the impact it is having.

“And then there are many, many events this year, including a climate change poster exhibition at Charlecote Park in August, a one day event at Birmingham University on July 25, an exhibition at the NEC in November to look at low carbon building, and of course our own Switch it Off campaign at the end of October and beginning of November.”

Residents, businesses, organisations and visitors to Warwickshire produce an estimated 4.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year in the county, equivalent to ten tonnes per person.

Ends

For more information and interview opportunities contact Jacky Lawrence on 01926 736324.

Note to editors:
Details on Warwickshire Climate Change Partnership can be found at http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/climatechangepartnership
Details on Switch it Off can be found at http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/switchitoff
Details on Practical Action can be found at http://www.practicalaction.org
To calculate a carbon footprint try the government’s new carbon footprint calculator at http://www.direct.gov.uk/actonCO2

Link to WCC