Crusaders throw down global warming gauntlet (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Crusaders throw down global warming gauntlet

3:53pm Thursday 23rd February 2006 in News By Sarah Singleton

Towns and villages across the county are being urged to take up a new eco-friendly challenge in a bid to cut green house gasses as SARAH SINGLETON reports.

Communities across Wiltshire are invited to confront the challenge of climate change in an innovative initiative by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.

The scientific community agrees planet earth is warming up because of emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels and many have warned of dire consequences if things don't change.

So the Climate Friendly Communities programme has set out a plan of action for towns and villages in a bid to reduce CO2 emissions and stave off the effects of global warming.

The new programme was launched at Urchfont on Saturday when people from across the county and further afield got together for a day of workshops and discussions to find out how changes can be made.

Sharon Charity, spokesman for the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, said: "Over 100 people attended. It was a very buzzy event and I think there was great enthusiasm about it.

"Of course many of the people there were already involved in one way or another. Now we want to spread the message to people who might not think it's something they would be involved with.

"We will only make a difference if large numbers of people start thinking environmentally friendly behaviour is normal and something for everybody that is the challenge."

Visitors to the event at Urchfont Village Hall attended a variety of workshops on topics such as energy efficiency in the home, recycling and waste minimisation, sustainable business, real nappies, community transport and locally-produced food.

Displays were set up around the hall by organisations such as renewable energy company Good Energy, Travelwise and the Wiltshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre.

Visitors also went to Urchfont's community shop, which sells local produce, to see how well it works.

Now the wildlife trust wants to find other towns and villages across the county keen to follow Urchfont's example and set themselves up as climate friendly communities.

Hannah Moser, who organised the event, said they wanted to sign up 12 communities over the next three years. So far groups in Marlborough and Ramsbury are taking up the challenge, and interest has been expressed by people in Corsham, Box, Atworth and Chippenham.

She said: "Climate change is happening now, on our doorsteps, and tackling it is a huge challenge. But you don't need to be a superhero or a saint to make a difference.

"All it takes are a few simple steps and we're here to show villages, towns and neighbourhoods all over Wiltshire how to take them together."

Peter Newell, chairman of Urchfont Parish Council, said the launch went brilliantly and they were delighted so many people came.

"We take the issue of climate change very seriously," he said. "Our whole lifestyle is based on the assumption of cheap fuels, and we have all got to be more responsible about our use of resources. There have to be some fundamental changes over the next few years."

The average person in the UK is responsible for emitting at least 11 tonnes of CO2 a year through heating and lighting homes, transport, producing and transporting the goods we consume and disposing of waste.

The climate friendly communities programme includes a range of activities for people to take on in a bid to lower CO2 emissions and putting the plan into place could improve the local quality of life by reducing traffic and building a sense of community.

Topics for action include transport, energy use and waste. People will be encouraged to use public transport, to car share, to walk or cycle on short journeys.

People can save energy through reducing waste to landfill, using a compost bin, recycling and choosing to buy goods less heavily packaged.

Residents can cut their energy bills and reduce CO2 by turning down the thermostat, insulating their homes and using low energy light bulbs.