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All of us, including voluntary organisations, community groups, charities, social enterprises and businesses are being encouraged to improve environmental efficiency, and lessen the adverse impact of excessive energy consumption and waste.
The following information may assist in achieving that aim:
Every Action Counts
Every Actions Counts is a national programme that provides advice and support to voluntary and community organisations that are looking to reduce their impact on the environment, tackle climate change and improve their local area.
Regardless of its size, your community group, club or society could make a really big difference. By taking a few easy actions you can help your group improve your local area, save money, engage in new interesting activities and even do your bit to help tackle global problems like climate change and unfair trade. Research shows it is often easier to try new actions or choices that help the environment if people work together and support each other as a group...more info
Cut your Carbon
Cut your Carbon is an exciting regional initiative, led by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), with the goal of helping communities respond to climate change by reducing their carbon emissions.
Groups taking part will be able to:
Website: www.cutyourcarbon.org.uk
Locally Jemma McLean of Bedfordshire Rural Community Charity can advise you on putting a local project together. Contact Jemma on 01234 832617 or email jemmam@bedsrcc.org.uk
How to go Carbon Neutral
Reduce: by doing fewer things that use up energy supplies and by using more efficient supplies and vehicles.
Renew: by getting the electricity that you still need either by generating it yourself, by using low carbon sources or purchasing from renewable suppliers. And you should switch to using alternate fuel cars if at all possible.
Replace: by offsetting the remaining carbon emissions by investing in tree planting or other projects that replace carbon dioxide.
Find out how Ashton Hayes is aiming to England's first Carbon Neutral Village at www.goingcarbonneutral.co.uk and download 'A Practical Toolkit for Communities Aiming for Carbon Neutrality'
Also find out how locally the residents in the Castle Ward East, Bedford are striving to become a zero carbon community through the Zero Carbon Castle Project
Want to do something to help stop global warming?
There are some simple things you can do....more info
Join a local group to support environmental issues.
Other websites of interest.
Environmental Policy
Your organisation should consider adopting an Environmental or Sustainable Development Policy. You can download a model document (PDF file) below:
Model Environmental Policy or read Voluntary and Community Actions own Sustainable Development Policy and Code of Conduct.
NAVCA - Creating Your Green Action Plan
We know that climate change and rising energy costs will affect us all, but hard-pressed voluntary organisations and community groups may find it hard to prioritise work on such issues. However we need to remember there is a strong link to issues of social justice – in the UK and around the world the poorest communities are disproportionately affected by climate change. This article gives you tips and ideas for how to develop a sustainable action plan for your organisation.
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