ACT Blog: Our Commitment to a Net Zero Carbon future
18th March 2023
We are doing what we can at ACT to reduce our use of climate damaging fossil fuels. We are in the lucky position of talking to communities about their carbon reduction activities too. There is a lot going on, and a lot more we can do.
You can see our Statement of Principle on Zero Carbon on our website. It is important to us to have set out publicly that we believe planning for the future – across the range of work we do – must include work to deliver a fair transition for rural communities. The challenges of rural transport, rural housing and access to a range of services including healthcare and education, should unite efforts to focus on low-carbon solutions.
We know that it is important to reduce our own, organisational impact in order to have credibility in this conversation. For us, leading by example includes: using a green energy supplier; reducing car journeys where possible by working from home; using online meeting facilities to engage with communities and partners; reducing waste in our daily working environment by working smarter, recycling and using green products; and sharing best practice with partner organisations. We have been carrying out an annual audit to assess our carbon reduction goals and have held the Gold Standard from Green at Heart, environmental advisers to business, for several years. Looking at what we do every year with an adviser helps us to find new ways to reduce our impact.
ACT is an active member of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership. We can support communities to think about tackling these issues locally, with a carbon reduction focus as well as for all the social, health-related and economic benefits of good housing and sustainable transport solutions.
Communities around Cumbria are taking local action on climate change. Lots of people are doing what they can at home and starting think about connecting with others to form new local groups or projects, so that action can be stepped up.
Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS) support a countywide network for local groups; the Cumbria Sustainability Network. The range of volunteer-led work going on in these communities is astonishing – from car clubs to biodigesters, and electric bikes to community energy schemes. CAfS also offer Community Climate Change Grants to groups who need money for local projects, so if you have an idea, why not talk to them about it?
Alongside the great practical actions which individuals and communities are taking, there is work to be done to influence and change policy where it is not helping achieve the best outcomes for the climate or for our rural communities. Raising community voices to bring about change will be increasingly important as we balance the needs for economic recovery with the specific need to reach net zero carbon by 2037 to avoid a tipping point in global climate change.
If you are interested in talking to us about any of this, please get in touch info@cumbriaaction.org.uk