South West should "lead the way with a regional carbon action plan" says sustainable development champion in response to Stern Review
30/10/2006 08:12With today’s publication of Sir Nicholas Stern’s review into the economic costs of climate change, Sustainability South West - the region’s independent champion of sustainable development - argues that the South West of England is “well placed to lead the way in low carbon living and working by adopting a Regional Carbon Action Plan”. The review stacks up the evidence that the economic costs of doing nothing to combat climate change could be up to 20 times greater than taking action now to avoid catastrophic climate change in the future.
Sustainability South West (SSW) believes that the South West of England cannot afford to delay direct action on climate change and, as the Stern Review is taken forward by the treasury, the region can lead the way to a low carbon future.
“Experts advise that we may only have ten years to achieve the required CO2 reductions to avert runaway climate change and we now understand that it would not only be environmentally irresponsible to avoid annual targets but economically and socially irresponsible too.” Commented Leslie Watson, Director of Sustainability South West: “The Stern Review, produced by a former World Bank economist and not an environmentalist, shows that the longer we delay taking action on climate change the higher our costs will be. We know the levels of CO2 emissions we need to stay within to avoid catastrophic impacts and, whilst international agreements are being negotiated, we have no time to wait!
“The South West is well placed to lead the way in low carbon living and working by adopting a Regional Carbon Action Plan with annual targets for emissions. To be effective the plan would cover energy use and production, transport and construction. We could gain more competitive innovative businesses; healthier lifestyles; locally generated clean energy; boost our economy by sourcing goods and services more locally and make huge savings from more energy efficient buildings. We do need to be more innovative and support more sustainable leadership but the prize could be a thriving economy fit for the 21st century and a more secure future for the people of the South West.”
Today’s publication of the Stern Review will help to bolster SSW’s innovative new project designed to help the region reduce its carbon footprint. Fair Shares, Fair Choice will offer individuals and organisations the opportunity to choose their own carbon action plans, helping them to make workplace and lifestyle choices within a truly sustainable carbon budget.
Julian Dennis, Director of Compliance and Sustainability at Wessex Water and Chair of Sustainability South West said of Fair Shares, Fair Choice: “If we continue with our high carbon approach we will lose all round. The impacts of climate change are already being felt across the globe. The South West is also starting to suffer from high carbon living with more traffic congestion, extreme weather events, unhealthy lifestyles etc. Sustainability South West is promoting real and positive solutions to allow us to meet the climate change challenge.”
For more information about Fair Shares, Fair Choice please contact Sustainability South West on 0117 933 0249 or e-mail them: info@sustainabilitysouthwest.org.uk
© 2007 Sustainability South West - UK registered charity, no. 1106125 - info@sustainabilitysouthwest.org.uk.