Carbon 'budget' will tackle climate change costs
More than hundred conference delegates from businesses, local government, Cumbrian communities, charities and environmental pressure groups, have agreed to do all they can to make the Lake District a pioneer area in tackling climate change by reducing the area’s carbon emissions.
The summit meeting at the Merewood Hotel at Windermere agreed to instigate a “carbon budget” for the Lake District to develop the economic and social benefits of tackling climate change.
Now as a first step, the Lake District National Park Partnership is to introduce a leadership training programme which will demonstrate how best to take action to cut the amount of greenhouse gases produced in the area.
“The proposed climate change leadership training programme will link leaders in local government, business and the voluntary sector, to allow them to work together on a comprehensive emissions reduction strategy.
“The programme will be designed specifically to identify individuals who can lead this agenda, and help them develop their skills and contacts,” said national park chief executive Richard Leafe, who chaired the summit.
Other key outcomes from the meeting were:
- developing a community-owned Renewable Energy Trust to fund community energy projects in Cumbria;
- making sure that transport plans for the county always factor in low-carbon objectives; and
- helping the lake district to lead the way in low-carbon land management, by “locking-in” more greenhouse gases into the landscape.
In addition to question and answer sessions, workshops and study groups, delegates were also given the first public screening of a new film showing the progress made and challenges still to come in dealing with climate change in the Lake District. The film will be available on our low carbon lake district section.
