County council helps to tackle climate change

Press release - 9 July 2007

County council helps to tackle climate change

Shropshire County Council is one of the top ten councils for tackling climate change, but still has much work to do to meet the likely demands of the new Climate Change Bill that is due to be introduced next year, the council’s Corporate Support Services Scrutiny Panel will hear next week (16 July).

A report to the panel outlines the work the council has done, is doing and needs to do to reduce its own impact on climate change, and outlines a number of successes and achievements in this area.

Named a Beacon Council for Sustainable Energy in 2005, the council has produced both a corporate and community Climate Change Strategy and its Corporate Plan (2006-2011) sets promotion of energy efficiency, increased use of renewable energy and reduced carbon emissions as priorities.

And having set a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2010, it achieved a 36 per cent reduction by April 2006.

The council has successful pool car and car-share schemes for staff, and has undertaken studies on the efficiency and environmental impacts of taxi fleets, community buses, community cars, school buses and mobile library route planning. And in building maintenance work, cost-effective energy efficiency measures are installed as standard, and new building projects seek to maximise energy efficiency.

However, the report says that the council must takes a more active role in reducing its own CO2 emissions to meet the likely targets in the Climate Change Bill. It recommends that the council address emissions from council vehicles, improves the energy efficiency of all council-owned buildings as part of maintenance and refurbishment programmes, ensure new buildings (including schools) are “carbon neutral” where possible, further expand its pool car scheme, and encourage staff and councillors to adopt simple measures, such as switching off lights when not in rooms.

Phil Box, Chairman of Corporate Support Services Scrutiny Panel, said: “Although Shropshire County Council is regarded as one of the top councils tackling climate change issues, this report shows that we cannot rest on our laurels. The work undertaken so far must be considered just the start of what needs to be done if the council is going to meet the forthcoming challenges of the Climate Change Bill and to continue to set an example as a community leader.”

Rachel Strivens, Sustainability Officer with Shropshire County Council, said: “Shropshire County Council has achieved a considerable amount in reducing its carbon emissions and has been given national prominence for doing so. However, there will need to be a step change in our performance if we are to respond to future challenges, maintain our lead position in this increasingly important and high profile area and comply with forthcoming national legislation.”
The Climate Change Bill will set demanding national targets to reduce CO2 emissions and is likely to put greater responsibility and pressure on councils to help meet these targets.

ENDS

Additional information

In early 2007 the Energy Saving Trust, the Carbon Trust, the Local Government Association and the Improvement Development Agency ranked Shropshire County Council within the top ten local councils tackling climate change.

For further information, call Rachel Strivens, Sustainability Officer, Economy & Environment, on (01743) 252599.
Phil Box, Chairman, Corporate Support Services Scrutiny Panel, on (01691) 652723.
For media contact, call Gareth Proffitt, Communications Officer, on (01743) 252828.