Tuesday 1st January 2008

Stoke Prepared to Act, Being Green Brings Silver

Stoke-on-Trent prepared to act on climate change
A report has shown that 72% of Stoke-on-Trent believes they personally can help limit the effects of climate change. The report, written from interviews with 370 local people, was carried out to show what the climate change awareness project, Cool Stoke, has achieved from a year of campaigning.

The project clearly had a wide reaching effect, with 40% of people recalling Cool Stoke mostly from having read information in local press like the Sentinel.

People agree the world's climate is changing (89%) and a very high number are aware that this change is a result of human behaviour (88%). But there is still some confusion over the causes of climate change with people not realising that it is caused by burning fossil fuels when we use electricity or travel in vehicles.

However people do seem to becoming more aware of some things we can do to limit climate change, with 18% of people saying we should use cars less in 2007 compared to 13% in 2006.

The report is very promising. It shows that people are getting the message that we can do something about climate change, like using cars less or sharing lifts.

If everyone were to share a lift to work just once a week, we would cut traffic by a fifth, and make a massive difference to the amount of carbon emissions Stoke-on-Trent is producing.

The report will be sent to Defra (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) and added to a collection of nationwide information about how people's attitudes towards climate change have changed during 2006-2007. This will help to guide the government on what is needed to help inspire people to take action on conserving energy.

Being Green Brings Silver
A School which transformed an eyesore into an environmental centre has won a green award. Berkswich Primary School in Walton-on-the-Hill, near Stafford, was awarded a Silver Gilt in the Youth and Education Category at the Staffordshire County Green Awards at a ceremony held at JCB.

Completed in April, the £18,000 project has transformed a weed-ridden eyesore which was prone to flooding into an imaginative new environmental centre.

All the features are linked to the curriculum and designed to inspire pupils to learn more about the environment. It includes a wormery, weather station, wind turbine and an outdoor teaching area.

Terry Dix, Staffordshire County Council's chairman and climate change champion, said: "The centre deserves all of the awards and praise it has received. "
Taken from the Sentinel

Gullies to be Emptied
Staffordshire's highways team has taken delivery of more than £500,000 of new heavy-duty gully-emptying equipment. Maintenance partner Enterprise, previously known as Accord, has brought in £550,000 worth of equipment which will help combat the changing weather conditions associated with climate change and heavier traffic.

The authority's leader, John Taylor, joined a team on the roads of Newcastle to find out about the increased challenges posed by changing weather conditions.

Councillor Taylor said: "As a former fireman I have had lot of experience of frontline working with hoses. This may not be quite as life and death, but I know it is a vital public service, keeping Staffordshire's network of more than 3,500 miles of roads clear of water.

"We are responding, adapting and innovating to meet the needs of a changing world," he said.
Taken from the Sentinel

Other News:

Art Work from Work Waste 'Reform' Art Exhibition more

Stoke-on-Trent prepared to act on climate change, Being Green Brings Silver, Gullies to be Emptied more

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Useful Links

Use these links to find out more about climate change and simple things you can do to reduce

Signup for updates

What do you get when you sign up for email up dates? The Cool Stoke Project will be running until 2008

Cool Stoke Project is run by Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Office address, Environment and Heritage Group, Regeneration and Heritage, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, PO Box 630, Civic Centre, Glebe Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 1RF. VAT registration number 2800 65377