Sustainability Champions offer a fairer, firmer alternative to the climate change bill
13/03/2007 14:38Charity Sustainability South West, the independent Champion Body for Sustainable Development in the South West of England, is offering an alternative to the Climate Change Bill published by government today. It claims to offer a fairer deal for both people and planet. The plan calculates a new 10 year carbon budget and individual fair carbon share with annual targets to stop us going into the red on climate change. The plan is based on the latest expert advice and a fair shares system that doesn’t disadvantage the less well off or short change the planet.
Sustainability South West’s scheme improves on the Government’s Climate Change Bill in two important ways – it recognises the greater urgency for short-term action and clear annual targets for CO2 emission reductions to achieve climate safety and the need for a fair share approach in which everyone has an equal share of carbon to use or trade with should systems become available.”
“This plan responds to expert advice that argues how our actions during the next 10 years will count the most in the battle against runaway climate change,” explains Leslie Watson, Director of Sustainability South West. The figures of the new 10 year budget show we need to reduce our CO2 emissions by roughly 10% this year and by around 30% (on the current average) by 2016.
The Ten Year Carbon Action Budget* is part of Sustainability South West’s Fair Shares, Fair Choice project. It is based on the principles of an internationally recognised model [see Note 3 below] which predicts how the atmosphere will behave over time. It calculates carbon budgets which are applied in an equitable way, recognising the differences between developed and developing economies. The Fair Shares, Fair Choice website, launched next week, will offer a choice of virtual ‘carbon coaches’, characters who will offer advice and tips about living within a fair carbon budget at home, work and play.
SSW’s Chair, Julian Dennis, Director of Compliance and Sustainability at Wessex Water says, “Fair Shares, Fair Choice is not about telling people how to live their lives but it will help us to understand that the choices we make about how we heat our homes, get around or shop all have a different ‘carbon price’ which we will all pay in the long run. There are many advantages to be gained by a low carbon lifestyle. We can improve our health by walking and cycling more and enjoy more locally sourced food and drink which also supports our local economies. We can reduce the stress of driving and flying by using video conferencing for more of our meetings or by working one day a week from home. Businesses will save on energy bills and gain from new environmental technologies.”
Sustainability South West believes that this region is very well placed to lead the way in the low carbon agenda and that our economy, personal well being and environment would all benefit. But as Leslie explains “The Government’s first ever Climate Change Bill is a very welcome first step, but it’s time for government to show stronger, responsible leadership and adopt low carbon policies for all aspects of our lives that will better support us all to meet the challenge ahead.
*Available on request
© 2007 Sustainability South West - UK registered charity, no. 1106125 - info@sustainabilitysouthwest.org.uk.