Press Releases for 2004
CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY UPGRADING FOR LOCAL COUNCILS
28th October 2004A contribution to Energy Efficiency Week Six major recent reports on growing problems associated with Climate Change offer opportunities for better policies and new employment in Kent(1). Kent Green Party is contacting all local council chief executives in Kent to advocate improved policies. One recent report is suggesting the Government is under-estimating UK emissions of carbon dioxide by 30%(2)! Dr Geoff Meaden (3) comments:
"Kent's Local councils face a considerable challenge in adapting their policies to deal with climate change. Despite the difficulties in getting more of the share of public spending for local government, the Green Party believes that sustainable transport, agriculture, energy conservation and renewable energy policies will create useful employment throughout Kent. "Kent Green Party is writing to each local authority Chief Executive in Kent to draw their attention to the new, constructive reports on climate change.
"We have tried for 20 years to get Kent County Council to adopt support for co-operatives, to make it easier for people to set up new enterprises with less capital needed per person, and less risk. Given higher energy bills, households have as examples - incentives to introduce better energy conservation methods and solar water heating. But people do need a sympathetic planning regime in every part of the County to help sustain this growing area of employment. This week is Energy Efficiency Week and should be the time to start an urgent review of local council policies relating to climate change. Congestion charging in London has cut London's traffic emissions by a huge 19%! Congested urban areas of Kent need to follow this example." ENDS c272 words
FURTHER INFORMATION: Dr Geoff Meaden, 01227 456806 or 01227 767700. Address above.
Notes: 1. The reports are WWF's Living Planet Report 2004, a new report on climate change in the UK by the Energy Saving Trust (Guardian, 25th October 2004); Global Warming, Local Warning: a study of the likely impacts of climate change upon South East England Dr Caroline Lucas, Green MEP for the South East; European Environment Agency Impacts of Europe's Changing Climate: an indicator based assessment. New Economics Foundation and 17 other organisations Up in Smoke: threats from, and responses to, the impact of global warming on human development, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister The Planning Response to Climate Change: advice on better practice. 2. WWF Living Planet Report 2004 & the Guardian, 25th October 2004. 3. Senior Lecturer in Biogeography, Canterbury Christchurch University College, Green Party parliamentary candidate for Canterbury and Chair, Kent Green Party.
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