Tewkesbury Borough Council has been commended for its carbon literacy and low-carbon culture by a UK charity.
The council was awarded by The Carbon Literary Project, a UK based charity which aims to increase awareness of climate change and carbon footprints. To achieve this recognition, Tewkesbury demonstrated that it has a rigid carbon reduction programme and is taking great strides to achieve this reduction. The council also exemplified how they are promoting carbon literacy training and support to council officers.
Background
Reducing carbon is crucial for tackling the climate crisis as it leads to global warming which results in rising sea levels, more extreme weather events, and ecological disruption. Taking action to reduce carbon emissions can help to mitigate these impacts and ensure a more equitable future for all people.
On a national scale, UK has been taking a range of measures to reduce carbon emissions in order to meet its target of net-zero emissions by 2050. The main ways are by investing in renewable energy, research and development of new technologies such as carbon capture, phasing out coal power, encouraging energy efficiency, promoting electric vehicles and a carbon pricing scheme.
The Carbon Literacy Project therefore recognises the need to cut carbon emissions and understands the “ability and motivation to reduce emissions, on an individual, community and organisational basis.”
Teweksbury Council’s Efforts
Tewkesbury Borough Council is committed to becoming a carbon neutral locality by 2030. As part of the innovations introduced within its Carbon Reduction Programme, a solar panel canopy was installed as its Public Service Centre. This has the capacity to generate power for 2/3 of the council’s electricity demand. Moreover, the council has also renewed its heating system by replacing gas boilers with an air source heating system – a much greener option.
Advancements have also been made by establishing a Green Champion network of volunteer officers. At least 50 council staff so far have participated in carbon literacy training, and numerous officers who completed the training are now volunteering as Green Champions for the council, implementing carbon reduction strategies at the council offices and promoting them throughout the workforce.
Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Executive Director of Resources, Simon Dix asserted “I’m delighted that we have been recognised by the Carbon Literacy Project in this way. The Carbon Literacy Organisation accreditation is proof that the council as an organisation, and our staff as individuals, are working hard to achieve our aim of carbon neutrality and have already introduced several successful measures to that end”.
Final Thought
Tewkesbury Borough Council is moving in the right direction and has clearly shown a large-scale commitment to reducing CO2 emissions. They are also taking a meaningful approach by actively involving members of the community in the ‘Green Champion’ network.
As well as environmental benefits, reducing carbon emissions can also have economic benefits. The transition to renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, can create jobs and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. It can also help to reduce the health impacts of air pollution, which is often associated with the burning of fossil fuels.