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Ref: 261/07 5 July 2007
A Call to Act on Cheshire’s Climate Change
Warnings of sea-level rises along Cheshire’s western shore line and storms leading to floods across the county affecting river valleys including the Weaver, Dane, Bollin, Dee and Gowy have underscored the need for countywide action to stem the effects of global warning.
But a County Council report says the scale of the challenge is such that all sectors of the community will have to be involved if targets are to be met in reducing emissions and adapting to climate change.
By acting together local authorities can have a major impact on national Greenhouse Gas emissions, action that will also lead to significant cost savings as well as protecting citizens against the effects of severe weather.
County Councillors are currently considering the result of a study by Cheshire’s Climate Change Scrutiny Review committee. However County Council involvement predates it by some years with the authority producing its first Corporate Plan last year and signing up to the North West Climate Change Charter in January 2006.
The new report acknowledges that with a workforce of over 24,000 staff, the County Council is itself a major consumer of energy and other resources.
The Authority considers it has a key role in demonstrating leadership in combating climate change, is prepared to work with other public and private agencies and the community to cut overall emissions and better management can cut emissions and save money still further.
Average annual temperatures are forecasted to rise by 5 degrees over the next 100 years.
The increase, says the report, will lead to greater need for cooling of homes and offices while extreme higher temperatures will threaten people’s health; wetter winters will lead to increased flooding, drier summers place greater strain on water resources; rising sea levels lead to coastal erosion and further flooding while extreme weather events including storms and high winds can be expected.
Cheshire is already experiencing the effects of climate change, Mean temperatures at Manchester Airport in the decade staring 1988 have registered an increase of almost 0.5C than the 30 year period starting 1961 leading to forecasts of an increase of 2.65C at the end of the century.
A recent survey of carbon dioxide emissions across the UK found that with the exception of Congleton, average households in Cheshire have higher emissions than the national average.
The survey took into account domestic energy use and car and air travel, and revealed Cheshire’s domestic emissions to be 9% above the NW average, while Macclesfield’s was 23% above the regional average – the 30th highest level in the UK.
The report outlines the cooperation between the district councils – Chester City, Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich, Macclesfield and Vale Royal – all of whom have studied areas including recycling, carbon neutrality, energy efficiency, alternative fuels, fleet management and staff travel.
The report concludes that Cheshire County Council has a major opportunity to raise awareness about climate change, to highlight existing work and the need for increased commitment; long term commitment to major environmental challenges such as waste energy and transport; to work in partnership providing support and advice to communities.
Ends
Note to Editors: Further details from Cheshire County Council’s Policy and Information Manager Peter Bulmer (Tel 01244 603032) and/or County Cllr David Newton, Acting Chairman of Climate Change Scrutiny Review (Tel: 01270 661791).
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