Swansea Council is signing up to a campaign to reduce carbon emissions.
The Authority is one of several across Wales and England to be supporting the 10:10 Campaign- a scheme looking to persuade people and businesses to reduce their CO2 emissions by 10 per cent in 2010.
Climate change predictions show that, without severe cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, the world will be hit by drought, famine and flooding.
Under the Climate Change Act 2008 the UK is due to cut its carbon emissions by 34 per cent by 2020 but, according to climate change scientists, a cut of 10 per cent in 2010 is in line with what’s now needed to avert runaway climate change.
This is why Swansea Council has now backed a motion that the Authority supports and signs up to the 10:10 Campaign to continue to meet its responsibilities to the environment.
Swansea Council already strives to cut carbon emissions across many of its services. Some of the measures in place include:
- A vehicle replacement policy that requires older and less environmentally friendly vehicles to be replaced with new vehicles that have a better CO2 rating.
- A new park and share scheme just off junction 46 of the M4 to cut down on congestion and emissions.
- Capital investment in energy efficient technology such as new lighting and heating systems and an annual fund to spend on reducing energy use.
- The publication of an energy efficiency guide for Council staff and a sustainable development guide for developers.
- The installation of renewable energy technology in new buildings such as the Canolfan Gorseinon Centre, YGG Llwynderw and Penyrheol Comprehensive School.
- The Council’s Housing Service providing home energy efficiency services ranging from advice on available grants and discount schemes for home insulation to partnership projects with energy companies for improving home energy efficiency. From 1997 to 2007 these services and others resulted in an 18.8% reduction in energy use and a 15.3% reduction in CO2 emissions in the domestic housing sector.
Swansea Council has also backed plans to introduce automatic energy metering in all non-domestic Council-owned buildings from libraries to leisure centres.
This means over 850 gas and electricity meters in around 400 buildings will soon be updated to provide automated readouts to improve the monitoring of energy usage and to eliminate estimated bills.
Cllr Gareth Sullivan, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic and Strategic Development, said: “We do a lot as an Authority to cut down on our carbon emissions and signing up to the 10:10 Campaign is further evidence of our unwavering commitment.
“The impact of using low carbon technologies and implementing schemes to cut down on carbon emissions is not only good for the environment but it also helps people and businesses save money.
“We have a responsibility to the world and to future generations to make a telling contribution here in Swansea to help the UK reach its carbon emission reduction targets set by legislation.”
Have a look at www.1010uk.org for more information about the 10:10 Campaign.
