About Snitterfield Actioning Climate Change Group
SACC is a steering group tasked with responding to the global issues of climate change at a local level.
It is hoped that this group can grow, like other village groups, and help develop local actions with the aim of lowering the carbon footprint of the village.
SACC looks for practical ways to engage with residents of the village, the school and local organisations to promite initiatives and actions, focusing on carbon emission reductions.
We need good ideas and practical people to help. Please contact us here.
Something about what we trying to achieve
To become carbon neutral we have to assess our current emissions and then take steps to reduce them through personal energy saving and lifestyle considerations. We cannot prevent all our emissions but those we do produce can be offset through local renewable energy schemes or forestry projects. Eliminating our carbon footprint will take time but we will help everyone who is willing to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through simple, and sometimes cost-saving measures
Our aim is to encourage everyone in our community to think about how their way of life affects their impact on climate change and to help people to understand how simple actions can make a big impact on CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. Now read the Project Brief from the Parish Council.
Carbon Footprint Team
Project Brief
Mandate for 2007
Objective
To set up a Project group to work together to help reduce the carbon footprint of the Parish of Snitterfield.
Background
Firstly the Climate Change And Sustainable Energy Act 2006 places a duty on local authorities, when exercising their functions, to have regard to a report published by the Secretary of State on ways in which they might improve energy efficiency, increase microgeneration, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and alleviate fuel poverty. It also empowers parish councils in England to encourage or promote microgeneration and energy-saving measures and the production and use of biomass and fuels derived from biomass in their area. Secondly Snitterfield Parish Plan states “Our desire is to protect and enhance the local environment. For the Parish to actively pursue the ethos of sustainable development, projects and monitoring need to be undertaken in key areas “ and goes on to give examples of such projects which among others include: “Reduce consumption of natural resources eg, energy efficient homes, reduced car use, improved waste management, water saving, (such as re-use of run-off water from all new developments).” And “Engage a wider group of parishioners in environmental matters.”
The carbon footprint team
Because of these and other reasons the Parish Council wishes to encourage and support the establishment of a team comprising of members of the parish who will be tasked with helping the parish of Snitterfield reduce its carbon footprint. Membership of the team will be open to any resident of the Parish of Snitterfield.
Reducing our carbon footprint
It is envisaged that the team will first investigate options for reducing the current footprint and then recommend a set of actions and make a request for any funding requirements.
If the Parish Council is in agreement, then the team will go on to deliver these actions with the active support of the Parish Council.
Time scale
The task will be completed in stages, undertaken as a series of initiatives. The first set of initiatives are expected to take place through the summer 2007, allowing a progress report to the Parish Council through the Autumn 2007.
Reporting structure
Councilor Jones will be the principle point of contact between the team and the Parish Council and will provide an update to the Council each month.