These days, it’s very uncommon to get through a week without seeing or reading something about the environment.
News stories about global warming, gas guzzlers, congestion charging, public transport, pollution in China and the likely impact on the Olympics abound.
On the other hand, it’s common for large public and private sector organisations to find it difficult to fit policies together without contradiction.
I recently visited a major supermarket and was greeted by staff encouraging me to buy a bag ‘for life’ to reduce plastic waste and the energy and resources used in production. Immediately, beyond these staff, was the fresh fruit and vegetable section, where a sign encouraged shoppers to support a Fair Trade initiative.
I wanted to buy locally-produced beans to support local farmers, jobs and businesses, and reduce emissions from transport. Unfortunately, the only beans on sale were from Africa and the Far East. Within a few steps, one initiative seemed to contradict the other.
How is supplying local produce – and it’s the right time of year for the crops to be available – rather than transporting green beans by air less important than converting shoppers to a bag for life?
In Tandridge, we try to ensure consistency of approach and feel we have achieved progress on our environmental initiatives, without compromising our other policies.
Climate change is one of a number of pressing political problems we face, and one on which we all have a responsibility to act. Every one of us, whether as individuals, businesses or government, has the ability to make a difference.
The Government has a special role to play, not just through creating policies, but by setting an example and, more importantly, practising what it preaches.
As shadow secretary of state for the environment, Peter Ainsworth has received countless letters from businesses and individuals asking for the Government to use its procurement budget to promote environmental technologies. But it is not just central government which can do this. Local government, businesses and every citizen can also take action and play their part.
Although high-profile initiatives are typically associated with central government or larger metropolitan councils, instances of environmental best practice can be found in many of the smaller rural districts.
Through leading by example and promoting environmental awareness, they can save money and demonstrate they are able to make sustainable use of resources.
We have been able to demonstrate to Mr Ainsworth how Tandridge DC has used its resources to punch above its weight, in environmental terms.
Tandridge managed to secure a £70,000 grant from the Energy Saving Trust for a solar panel project to convert daylight into electricity. During 2006, 300 panels were installed on the south-facing roof of the council’s offices.
This is one of the most effective examples of renewable energy in Surrey, producing up to 10% of the council’s energy needs and cutting the building’s carbon emissions by more than nine tonnes each year.
This is an important step, since the majority of UK emissions come from buildings.
But Tandridge has not stopped here. Other issues include:
l a ground source heat pump planned for the council’s new sports pavilion
l the promotion of home composting
l a car-sharing scheme for council staff
l increasing household energy efficiency through best practice advice and the promotion of home energy saving schemes
l environmentally-friendly features at the Tandridge Leisure Centre
l introducing a beverage carton recycling scheme throughout Tandridge by the council and Tetra Pak to help residents recycle their drinks cartons easily.
Mr Ainsworth believes climate change is too large an issue for us to wait for others to take action. And local government is performing a crucial role in empowering communities to rein in our impact on the environment, and save money at the same time.
There has been no issue likely to affect future generations quite as much as this one. Mr Ainsworth has applauded the initiatives we have undertaken and hopes others will follow our example.
The discussions on the environment and our actions must go beyond the debate on weekly versus fortnightly refuse collections and penalty notices. Incidentally, we still collect the rubbish every week and have not imposed any fines. n
Stephen Weigel is chief executive of Tandridge DC
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