Cash Injection for Climate Change Campaign

18 September 2009  

Schools and the rural community are to be targeted in a new campaign to raise awareness about climate change issues, thanks to a cash windfall.

West Lancashire Borough Council and Groundwork are working on a number of exciting initiatives as part of their Climate Change Workshop Programme following funding of £8,646 from the West Lancashire Local Strategic Partnership’s Second Homes Fund. The Borough Council has also put additional funding to this project.

The money will be used to raise awareness of climate change issues and to encourage pupils, teachers and the agricultural industry to become more environmentally friendly and look at energy-saving ideas – which will save them money too!

There will be workshops, face-to-face support for schools and individual rural businesses as well as support for particular projects that will help save the planet.

It will encourage these target groups to think more about the environment, such as recycling, travel and transport and saving on energy.

Councillor Martin Forshaw, Portfolio Holder for Planning, said:

“It has been proven that human's have a significant effect on climate change. The effects of increasing global temperatures, rising sea levels and an increased frequency of extreme weather events, are being felt locally and we must all act now to tackle climate change. This funding will help us to reach schools and the rural sector to address the issues of climate change, energy management and increase waste recycling and composting. It will also complement the existing work that the Council and partners are doing to encourage people to be more environmentally friendly.”

Funding was also secured earlier this year from the Lancashire Climate Change Partnership and the Borough Council to carry out similar work with businesses, parish councils and community groups. They are currently using the money to work with these groups to produce green action plans and to encourage them to tackle climate change issues.

Peter Jordan, Director of Groundwork Pennine Lancashire, said:

"Climate change is an issue that will impact future generations and, as adults, it is our duty to educate younger generations.  By empowering them with this knowledge, we can not only stimulate the reduction of CO2 emissions but we can also teach them how to be engaged citizens. At Groundwork we strongly believe in working with partners to produce the best results and so we are delighted to be delivering this initiative to schools alongside West Lancashire Borough Council as well as engaging the business and community sectors to address their environmental impact and help them save money.”