26/9/2008 - Cumbria tackles climate change

Cumbria stepped up the battle against climate change today (Friday September 26) when senior figures come together in a bid to slash the county’s carbon footprint.

Cumbria Strategic Partnership (CSP) –a county-wide partnership bringing together organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors –held a workshop at the Green Hill Hotel, Wigton, where delegates worked on a strategy that will deliver major reductions in carbon emissions.

And the task of cutting Cumbria’s CO2 emissions by 210,000 tonnes by 2011 was highlighted when CSP members stood around a giant ‘carbon footprint’.

While some members have already committed to making cuts of between 15 and 50 per cent in their carbon emissions over the next three years, other members are just setting out on the journey to reduce their impact.

The aim of the strategy is to make Cumbria more energy efficient and resilient to anticipated changes in climate, as well as serving to secure the county’s long term prosperity.

Those attending the workshop included representatives from a host of organisations such as Cumbria County Council, NHS Cumbria (the county's primary care trust) and Cumbria Vision.

CSP chairman, Bill Lowther, said: "The partnership now has a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate real leadership by agreeing to take significant action across Cumbria as well as enabling everyone, through changes in policy, to play their part too."

Cumbria County Council climate change officer, Phil Davies, added: "This event was an exciting and important development as it signals a real commitment to tackle climate change in Cumbria.

"As well as environmental benefits, there are some real social and economic opportunities to be gained in Cumbria by taking early action on climate change.

"Delaying action will simply cost us more."

The workshop reviewed the strategy developed by the CSP’s Climate Change Task Group, and an action plan will now be developed following the recommendations made by delegates.

The strategy takes a comprehensive look at the relationship between climate change and a range of issues including water and the risk of flooding, planning and renewable energy, opportunities for revitalising Cumbria’s economy through environmental technologies and the links between climate change and health.

It also considers how organisations and individuals will have to adapt to the impacts of climate change, already evident in unpredictable weather patterns.

Richard Leafe, chief executive of the Lake District National Park Authority, added: "I am delighted to be one of the organisations involved in shaping this crucial strategy. This is a very important issue, not just in the Park but across all of Cumbria.

"Climate change is happening –as it always has –but it is now being accelerated by human activity."

The strategy will be driven by an action plan to cut CO2 emissions from human activity across Cumbria.

The Government is committed to a 60 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions in the UK by 2050, with a target of around 27 per cent by 2020.

Through its Local Area Agreement with the Government, Cumbria has agreed an interim target of reducing CO2 emissions by 210,000 tonnes by 2011, or 0.42 tonnes per person.

ENDS

Media enquiries to media officer John Ballard on 01228 226332.