World Environment Day 2009

(Date of issue: Wednesday, 3 June 2009)

Carlisle City Council is a proud supporter of the United Nations World Environment Day on Friday 5 June. We are encouraging all of our residents and Carlisle City Council staff, our suppliers and customers to join in and do their bit to help reduce the UK’s carbon emissions.

Environmental performance information for 2008/9 is currently being collated and one remarkable success story relates to gas consumption in the Council’s main buildings; the Civic Centre, Bousteads Grassing, the Crematorium and Tullie House. During the period 2005/06 the City Council consumed 5,694,351kwh of gas at these sites, and during 2008/09 this had dropped to 4,019,057kwh, a 30% reduction over a three year period. In terms of emissions, this also equates to a 30% reduction from 1,053 tonnes to 743 tonnes of carbon dioxide, helping to reduce the City Council's carbon footprint.

These figures show the City Council’s commitment to the Nottingham Declaration, which it signed in 2007. The declaration is a voluntary agreement for local authorities that want to tackle climate change by reducing carbon emissions through energy conservation, greater use of renewable energy and sustainable transport

Quote:

Carlisle City Cllr Ray Bloxham said:

“Cutting carbon emissions is crucial in tackling the challenge of climate change and should be a key priority for local authorities. The UK government has identified the local authority sector as key to delivering carbon reduction across the UK in line with its climate change commitments. Carlisle City Council wants to demonstrate leadership in the area of climate change action, and get our house in order by reducing our carbon dioxide emissions as efficiently and effectively as possible. The Council is leading by example and is implementing a Carbon Management Plan with support from the Carbon Trust. This means that already we are starting to see real improvements in the energy efficiency of Council buildings, as well as street lighting and vehicles”.