Fair Shares, Fair Choice
On 22nd and 23rd March 2007 Sustainability South West (SSW) launched a major new project aimed at promoting positive action on climate change - from individuals to organisations. The Fair Shares, Fair Choice initiative supports everyone to live and work within a 'fair carbon share' and is being taken forward as the South West's sustainability 'Big Idea'. DEFRA has asked all UK regions to come up with a Big Idea for sustainability and SSW (as the region's sustainable development Champion Body) are taking a coordinating lead in the South West of England.
Fair Shares, Fair Choice (FSFC) has used a CO2 reduction model called Contraction & Convergence (C&C) to calculate a 'fair share' for every person who lives in the South West along with an overall budget for the region. 2007's fair carbon share for individuals is 4.2 tonnes - at an average of 4.8 tonnes (excluding carbon hefty international flights and cruises!) many of us are already in the red. To be on target to meet 2017's personal and regional budgets we need to reduce our collective carbon spending by around a third.
Users of the FSFC website can explore how to make their carbon budget go further along with sharing their 'carb-cutting' stories. Everyone - whether it's local teams or local authorities - is invited to join the FSFC movement to support the principle of living within a globally fair and safe share of CO2 emissions (signing up takes 30 seconds!).
On the website you can meet FSFC's team of virtual 'carbon coaches', calculate your carbon footprint, take personal carb-busting challenges and browse resources for your business, public agency, organisation, community group or school.
The ultimate aim of Fair Shares, Fair Choice is to help get the South West's CO2 emissions 'within budget'. As the movement is developed with the region's stakeholders, Sustainability South West will share the South West's experiences with the rest of the UK and beyond!
Join in the low carbon movement and be part of a positive story on climate change at www.fairsharesfairchoice.com
Fair Shares, Fair Choice is financially supported by the South West of England Regional Development Agency, English Heritage and Defra.
© 2007 Sustainability South West - UK registered charity, no. 1106125 - info@sustainabilitysouthwest.org.uk.