This scheme has been specifically designed to hit the top senior levels of large organisations to educate and bring awareness to the growing improvements to reduce energy use and therefore cutting back on carbon emissions. These targeted carbon emissions are separate to those already covered by climate change agreements and the EU emissions trading scheme.

For those wanting to participate and join the CRC the scheme is going to be run as a ‘cap and trade’ directive and will provide financial incentives to reduce carbon emissions from energy use. Based on annual emissions,  there will be allowances for each organisation which can be purchased, and on reducing the emission there funds get directly recycled back into the organisations.

Already in partnership with the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Department of Environment Northern Ireland, this newly named scheme is going to influence around 20,000 UK public and private sector organisations who are responsible for around 10% of the UK’s emissions.  

As the scheme moves forward the registration for organisations to join is now open. Click HERE to find out what the scheme is going to achieve and how you can be part of it.

Tidal Turbine

Whilst organisers resort to desperate measures, trucking in tonnes of snow and straw to pack-out the slopes, there are already whispers as to whether the freak change in the weather is pointing to something more serious that a disruption to the ski season.

The very real jeopardy of a favoured recreational activity it seems is enough to bring Climate Change to the forefront of people’s minds. It is frustrating, that after all the dire warnings and devastating climatic events already taking place around the world; raising sea levels, tidal waves, flooding etc… it takes a treat to our right to strap flat objects to our feet and slide downhill in cold weather, to really put the frighteners on us. But if it works and prompts any kind of positive action, then who are we to question to motives behind it?

The main concerns for the area (15 sections of coastline between Devon and Dorset) are storm damage, erosion and rising sea levels. In fact, only last year a huge landslide destroyed 400 metres of the world heritage coastline near Lime Regis. Clearly, the councils realised it was time to act.

£376,500 is now available to Devon and Dorset in order for them to assist the most venerable communities in the area. However, the money will not, as you would imagine, be going to improve sea defences, but to help the inhabitants gain a better understanding and ability to adapt to the impact of inevitable coastal changes. Debates will be held at local level, contingency plans devised and there will be the introduction and development of training programmes for conservationists.

Is this a case of forearmed is forewarned? Although it’s a positive nod by the government, towards recognising the dangers facing an island nation from the ravages of global warming, perhaps more should be being done to slow erosion and raising sea levels in the first place.

Apparently, we are led to believe, that this controversy was started due to leaked emails. It appears that it will take 3 years for the re-examination of the findings, so only by 2012 will the information have any perceivable credibility.  The Met Office database is one of three main sources used by the UN to analyze climate change and was to be the foundation of the talks in Copenhagen this week

The timing plays straight into the hands of countries such as America and Australia, who are concerned that unrealistic CO2 emission cuts will be introduced at the summit.

Hard to believe I know, especially when the evidence is so clear – greenhouse gasses cause climate change, Fact.  As the ice melts in parts of Antarctica, sea levels are anticipated to rise by 1.4 m by the end of the century, which could be disastrous for many countries. Climate change is a very real phenomenon; as greenhouse gasses go up, so the temperature increases.

And yet, there are still non-believers!  Following a recent opinion poll, it seems members of the public feel the following: that the science is too confusing, that it doesn’t affect them personally; that there is no urgency and it is not an important priority. Some even view it as a costly over-reaction. 

What also appears to be a major factor in the public not facing the hard reality of global warming is that the message is frequently conveyed by politicians, which immediately gives rise to scepticism.  So, why after all the eye wash we are fed by politicians, is this the one thing we choose to question? Somebody please answer me that!

The Ratcliffe coal-fired power station in Nottinghamshire was the target for the environmental activists.  The protesters gathered at various points on Saturday morning, broke through a perimeter fence within 5 minutes and swooped into the power plant in separate groups, thus achieving their aim.

About 300 protesters were present and police have confirmed reports that there were 3 people injured and that 50 arrests were made.

Demonstrators who were involved in the The Great Climate Swoop included supporters from; Climate Rush, Plane Stupid and Camp for Action. Their overall mission is to show that coal has no future and to take action, when and where possible, on issues climate change.

In the run up to Copenhagen, there is a mounting feeling of tension, which is spilling over into impressive calls for action. Growing numbers of people are feeling that it’s time to take action into their own hands as they become increasingly frustrated not to mention embarrassed by the extreme level of foot dragging going on in the UK over climate change – namely by the government and leading corporations.

The Great Climate Swoop openly recognizes the vital role coal has played in our nation’s past, however now it is time to take responsibility for our future. Burning coal is now the biggest single source of carbon emissions in the UK.

Although Drax is Europe’s biggest coal power station, and the UK’s largest source of carbon emissions, with a nod to the reality TV voting systems, the power station selected by thousands of interested parties for ‘Direct Action’ is Ratcliffe-on-Soar – the UK’s 3rd largest source of carbon emissions, with plans to build a controversial new coal plant at Kingsnorth.

The ‘Great Climate Swoop’ is planned for 17th and 18th October and will operate on the same basis as the G20 camp, which was deemed massively successful due to the fact that the protestors managed to set up camp completely avoiding police surveillance!

To find out more or get involved visit: The Great Climate Swoop!

It’s a shame that the people are having to lead the government by the nose on an issue as critical as climate change, especially when they are supposed to have our best interests at heart, but perhaps I am being naive. Ken Livingstone phrased it neatly when he reflected that many of the Labour party “are afraid of losing a Daily Mail reader in Chipping Sodbury.”

10:10 is all about individuals and institutions making a difference by making a personal vow to cut carbon emissions by 10% in 2010, be it turning down the heating, eating less mass produced meat, using the car less and the bike more, whatever it takes. I personally take my hat off to Franny Armstrong and everyone involved in getting this campaign off the ground.

Join up now and add your voice to the thousands calling for change!

Heavily weighed down by its promise to reduce CO2 emissions by 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050, the government is poised to invest £100 billion into a renewable energy infrastructure, including 7,000 wind turbines by 2020.

All well and good, but the increased cost to the consumer could result in many households facing fuel poverty.  It is anticipated that bills will have to rise by 20% to pay for this investment.  The average household currently pays approximately £1,150 a year for electricity and gas, the cost of converting to renewable energy and modernising Britain’s power stations could add another £230 to this.

Too bitter a pill to swallow?  Then be aware that in all likelihood, as things stand our energy prices will increase anyway, so it’s crucial to make a positive change before it’s too late.