As Parliament boosts ‘green’ thinking, support... 
Cheshire’s Year of Action on Climate Change
There is now scientific agreement that we are responsible for the changes we are seeing in the climate, and we have a window of opportunity in our generation to prevent it becoming any worse.
It seems as though barely a day goes by without climate change hitting the news. It can all seem a bit overwhelming and daunting at times, as well as confusing.
What’s wrong with a bit of warmer weather? Isn’t it just part of the natural changes in the atmosphere?
Climate change is big news now, and for a reason. While the changes to our climate will mean hotter summers, it will also lead to problems such as flooding, storms and drought. The ten warmest years on record have all been since 1990. Already this year, January has been the warmest ever.
Cheshire County Council - in partnership with The Sustainable Cheshire Forum, established 10 years ago as a environmental partnership of 70 organisations across the county - has declared a 2007 Year of Action on Climate Change, working together across the County to seize this opportunity and rise to the challenge presented to us all.
First though, it is important we all understand what climate change means and what it might mean in our day to day lives before we can appreciate how we really can all make a difference through our actions.
What is climate change?
Climate change describes the changes we are causing in our atmosphere as a result of human activities. These activities are based on the burning of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas which produce carbon dioxide (CO2).
The concept of climate change has also been known in the past as the “Greenhouse Effect” or “Global Warming”.
What will this mean to me?
This extra CO2 acts like a blanket around us, warming our planet and upsetting its natural systems. Its effects on the weather impacts on our health, economy, homes and local environment.
Warmer weather will mean a change in the seasons. Spring will come earlier, affecting the traditional plants and animals we are used to seeing at this time of year.
Summers will be drier with less water available for our homes, gardens and businesses and extra effort required to stay cool, which will be particularly important for older and younger people to avoid the effects of the heat.
However, winters will become wetter, meaning more flooding of homes and businesses.
This could have an effect on our insurance costs as well as the upset and damage this causes.
What can I do about climate change?
The good news is that simple actions can reduce the effects of climate change – many of which bringing other benefits, such as new jobs, improved local environments and economic growth. Together, with government and industry, we can influence the future from our homes and work places.
Imagine if everyone reading this article did just one thing - what an incredible difference we would make!
So, what can we do?
Read on for some ideas to get you started at home
Switch off!
One of the simplest ways to reduce CO2 is to use less energy – and cut costs. So, when you don’t need lighting in a room, switch it off. Don’t leave your TV, computer or stereo on standby. Switch electrical appliances off at the wall.
Even when shut down, computers use double the power of an ‘A’ rated fridge over a 24hr period.
Switching on!
By using energy efficient light bulbs, instead of the traditional type, you will use only one fifth of the energy and they last for up to 30 years, saving you money.
Replacing 10 standard bulbs for energy efficient varieties can slice £60 off your energy bill. Switching your electricity to a green tariff supports renewable energy which does not produce any CO2! Ask your supplier for information.
Home health check
Get free and impartial advice on how to make your home less draughty and more energy efficient. Cheshire’s Energy Efficiency Advice Centre shows how to cut your bills through low-cost measures with grants, when eligible, to you to help you do it. Contact them free on 0800 512012.
 It takes two…
Car sharing to work just once a week reduces your ‘carbon footprint’, cuts fuel bills…and creates new friendships! Ask if your work has a car sharing scheme and if not, why not set one up? Or sign up to two national schemes that are free to use to find travel companions to car share, reduce congestion and share travel costs; National Carshare UK or Liftshare.
Shop locally, and buy food and goods more likely to be produced locally, cutting ‘food miles’ - the distance it is transported - and packaging. Get to know more people where you live and buy fresh, healthy food, often more cheaply.
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