18 September 2009, 09/208
Cash injection for
climate change campaign
Schools and the rural community are to be targeted in a new
campaign to raise awareness about climate change issues, thanks to
a cash windfall.
West Lancashire Borough Council and Groundwork are working on a
number of exciting initiatives as part of their Climate Change
Workshop Programme following funding of £8,646 from the West
Lancashire Local Strategic Partnership’s Second Homes Fund. The
Borough Council has also put additional funding to this
project.
The money will be used to raise awareness of climate change
issues and to encourage pupils, teachers and the agricultural
industry to become more environmentally friendly and look at
energy-saving ideas - which will save them money too!
There will be workshops, face-to-face support for schools and
individual rural businesses as well as support for particular
projects that will help save the planet.
It will encourage these target groups to think more about the
environment, such as recycling, travel and transport and saving on
energy.
Councillor Martin Forshaw, Portfolio Holder for Planning, said:
"It has been proven that human's have a significant
effect on climate change. The effects of increasing global
temperatures, rising sea levels and an increased frequency of
extreme weather events, are being felt locally and we must all act
now to tackle climate change. This funding will help us to reach
schools and the rural sector to address the issues of climate
change, engery management and increase waste recycling and
composting. It will also complement the existing work that the
Council and partners are doing to encourage people to be more
environmentally friendly."
Funding was also secured earlier this year from the Lancashire
Climate Change Partnership and the Borough Council to carry out
similar work with businesses, parish councils and community groups.
They are currently using the money to work with these groups to
produce green action plans and to encourage them to tackle climate
change issues.
Peter Jordan, Director of Groundwork Pennine Lancashire,
said: "Climate change is an issue that will impact future
generations and, as adults, it is our duty to educate younger
generations. By empowering them with this knowledge, we can not
only stimulate the reduction of CO2 emissions but we can also teach
them how to be engaged citizens. At Groundwork we strongly believe
in working with partners to produce the best results and so we are
delighted to be delivering this initiative to schools alongside
West Lancashire Borough Council as well as engaging the business
and community sectors to address their environmental impact and
help them save money."
Related information