Climate Change
Climate change and its impacts – increasingly dry, hot summers and warm, wet winters and the associated incidence of heat waves, storms and flooding – are now widely recognised as a major challenge to our future health and quality of life.The majority of scientists are convinced that we are affecting the climate by the way that we live. This is not surprising, as we know that gases keep the earth warm and we know that concentrations of these gases are increasing. We emit greenhouse gases when we use energy from fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil or electricity generated from these fuels). We also change the balance of gases in our atmosphere when we cut down forests and replace them with agricultural land. We have a collective responsibility to do our bit for our environment, in terms of conserving energy, minimising waste and reducing the overall emission of greenhouse gases. It is often the small, low cost actions, such as using energy saving light bulbs, turning off appliances and ensuring loft/ cavity walls are properly insulated, that offer the biggest energy and environmental savings. So as well as reducing our impact on the environment, such actions will also help us to save money on our bills! For further information on the issue of climate change and what you can do visit the Climate Challange Website.
We are working with local communities to help them take practical steps to improve their energy efficiency, including community buildings, public spaces and individual households. As well as energy audits, we will also be providing groups and individuals with practical guidance and support on sustainable energy and waste action, from no/ low cost measures, such as composting, rainwater harvesting and improved insulation; to capital investment measures, such as solar thermal, combined heat and power and other such low carbon systems. We are keen to support communities to go carbon neutral. Visit the Ashton Hayes website for lots of useful info about going carbon neutral or the Transition Towns website for info about peak oil and climate change.
We are committed to supporting communities across Bedfordshire and Luton to reduce their environmental impact and to adapt successfully to the impacts of a rapidly changing climate. As well as supporting practical community action, BRCC is also working with its partners on the Bedfordshire Climate Change Forum, to influence development policies and plans, which is particularly significant, given the major growth planned for the county, with 90,000 new homes by 2031 and 50,000 new jobs by 2021. BRCC is also 'getting its own house in order' with the imminent adoption of a nationally accredited Environmental Management System (EMS), developed in accordance with the British Standard for EMS, BS8555.
For further information, contact: Richard Lawrence, richardl@bedsrcc.org.uk or tel: 01767 626451.
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