See below for links to:

  • communities in the UK who aim to become carbon neutral
  • other community based networks
  • eco-villages
  • carbon footprints

Humour

Communities in the UK who aim to become carbon neutral

Chew Magna is a small village near Bristol. Last year some villagers set up a project called GoZero, to turn Chew Magna into a carbon-neutral, zero-waste village. There were home energy audits for everyone in the village. They restored the local watermill and turned it into a base for the project. They produced a local food guide. They researched home-made biofuels. They organised car-share schemes and negotiated with the council for better public transport. They have joined up with an Indian grassroots charity called Social Change and Development (SCAD), which began 20 years ago to help villagers living in poverty, by listening and working with them to enable the villagers to fulfill their needs. A charity called The Converging World was set up in Chew Magna, which seeks funds to erect wind turbines near SCAD’s communities.

Blisland, a small village in Cornwall has opened a vilage centre, shop, post office and cafe that are carbon neutral.

Belstone, a village on Dartmoor is carrying out an energy audit for the village.

Harlow North, near Chester, also has a scheme to become carbon neutral.

The Sherwood Energy Village in Nottinghamshire was constructed on a former pit site, is now owned by a cooperative of former miners and is to be carbon neutral.

Ashton Hayes is a small village near the Welsh borders. Last year they began their project to become carbon neutral. They have worked with academics, local council, schools, renewable energy companies and others. They are twinned with Castlemain in Victoria, Australia, which also aspires to become a carbon neutral community.

Other community based networks

Transition Towns is a network of communities dedicated to local sustainability initiatives, so we're not alone as a community. In fact, we're not alone as a network. These are just some of the other such networks around the world:

From the University of East Anglia in Norfolk, CRed is a way of supporting individuals and towns to reduce their CO2 emissions (their target is 60% reduction by 2027). Its website is full of useful ideas and links. http://www.cred-uk.org/index.aspx

In the US, Step it Up is a national grassroots movement demanding 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. Its national day of climate action is 14 April, and so far, through internetworking, the campaign has caught the public imagination and got commitment from many groups across the US. http://www.stepitup2007.org/article.php?id=29

From Gloucestershire, one woman has started a movement of people all taking immediate action in their own lives on Climate Change. Cathy Green writes: according to George Monbiot, we in the West need to reduce our personal carbon footprint by 90% by 2030 which is not currently possible for the average Brit without Government help and legislation. However, what is possible is an immediate 80% cut which would reduce the average personal carbon emissions of Five Tonnes to One Tonne of CO2 a year. Your personal carbon emissions are the ones you can control that come from your house and your personal travel. If you can reduce to One Tonne in your personal emissions you will almost be living sustainably on this planet - you can become a One Tonner. The process is very simple and easy to do - all you really need to do is switch to a Green Electricity supplier, insulate your house, cut down the driving and STOP FLYING! Once you have done these actions you will be well on your way to becoming a One Tonner... http://theonetonners.blogspot.com/

Eco-villages

BedZED or the Beddington Zero Energy Development is the UK's largest eco-village. "The multi-award winning development is one of the most coherent examples of sustainable living in the UK. Initiated by BioRegional, BedZED was developed by the Peabody Trust in partnership with BioRegional Development Group and designed by Bill Dunster Architects. Located in Wallington, South London, BedZED comprises 100 homes, community facilities and workspace for 100 people. Residents have been living at BedZED since March 2002. BioRegional are working to show that eco-construction and developing green lifestyles can be easy, accessible and affordable, and provide a good quality of life."

The world's first One Planet Living (OPL) community has received planning permission in Brighton. Run by WWF and BioRegional, the development will be zero-carbon and zero-waste and will have living, community and business space, including communal gardens, rooftop allotments and wind turbines.

Carbon footprints

Here are some links to sites which allow you to calculate your carbon footprint and offer tips on how to reduce it.

Carbon Footprint

Stop Global Warming

Get involved: contact hello [at] TransitionTownLewes.org.uk