Climate Change and Sustainability
Climate Change is described by many world leaders as the single
biggest threat to mankind. Global Warming through an increase in
greenhouse gas emission, has already started to make significant
changes to the environment.
Cheshire West and Chester Council
recognises that climate change is a global issue that requires
local action, and that a path of sustainable development needs to
be followed to ensure the best quality of life for the borough,
both now and in the future.
Climate change is inevitable, due to
the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases already emitted into
the atmosphere. What we have to do is minimise the impact we have
on the environment, so that we are able to slow the rate of
change.
You can find out what your carbon footprint is and how you can make
some simple changes to help tackle climate change.
Sustainability
Sustainability is about
ensuring that we continue to survive and prosper as a species.
It's about ensuring we live
in such a way that recognises we have had, and will continue to
have a significant impact on the environment. Whilst we must
therefore ensure we meet our essential needs and increase social
progress and economic prosperity at both a local and global level,
we must do so only within the environmental limits and carrying
capacity of our planet.
This means that we need to
make sure we do not pollute the air we breathe, the land we use for
food or the water we use for drinking, that we protect and conserve
the Earth's natural resources, whether they be forests, animals,
soils, fish, minerals, plants or habitats, and when we do use the
Earth's natural resources, we do so only at a rate at which they
can be replenished.
For us to pollute the air,
land and seas at will and without regard, or to deplete the Earth's
natural but ultimately finite resources unnecessarily, would mean
we are living unsustainably as we would be endangering the capacity
of future generations to have a secure and sustainable future.
Definition
The definition of sustainable development is
therefore 'meeting the needs of our present
generation without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their needs'.
There is now however clear scientific evidence
that we are now living unsustainably.
According to the
WWF
if everyone in the
world lived like an average European we would need three planets
with the same diversity and quantity of resources as earth live on,
alternatively if we all lived like the average American citizen we
would need five planets to live on. We have therefore now exceeded
the Earth's capacity to replenish the resources we need to
survive.
Cheshire West and Chester Council's commitment
As a Council we are however committed to securing a sustainable
future for us all. We will therefore work with the local community,
schools, businesses, our partners and any other organisations to
ensure we build a community in which people both want and are able
to live both now and in the future.
This means addressing the way as a Council we deliver our
services for example reviewing the way we use natural resources
such as paper, office equipment, plastics and other materials, the
way we purchase materials and equipment for example whether we are
procuring goods and services locally, the quantity of waste we are
disposing off, the amount of water we consume and energy we use in
our buildings and in travelling between offices as well as to and
from work.
The Statement of
Intent - Sustainability (PDF 543 kb) outlines the
Authorities commitment to this agenda.
Internal Energy Management - Cheshire West
and Chester Council is looking to improve the effective management
of the energy used by the Council. It is creating a streamlined
system of data management and energy security to comply with
current legislation (the Carbon Reduction Commitment energy
efficiency scheme). Effective energy management, reduces energy
costs and therefore ensures that council tax is spent on necessary
services. The associated reduction in the Council's Carbon dioxide
emissions, will reduce the authorities own contribution to Climate
Change. Investigations into renewable energy generation across
Cheshire West and Chester are also being undertaken to provide
clean power for service delivery and schools.
In addition Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council passed a
Fair
Trade Resolution on 17 December 2009 which is the first step in
the Borough receiving accredited Fairtrade Borough
Status.
Working in partnership
We are also committed to
ensuring that we will work with individuals, with our community,
our partners, businesses, any other organisations, and moreover the
employees and individuals within those organisations to support
them so that both current and future generations in Cheshire West
and Chester are able to lead constructive, secure, and satisfied
lives whilst at the same time helping move us all towards a
sustainable future.
Useful Links