Climate change
Information about climate change, and what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint, saving you energy, money and the environment.
What is climate change?
Man-made climate change is caused by the gases we release into the atmosphere. Carbon gases (such as carbon dioxide and methane) are a particular problem. They are produced every time we turn on an appliance, heat our homes, travel or buy manufactured goods. As more carbon gases are released, the average temperature of the Earth increases which affects the climate and causes more extreme weather.
The Climate in Rushcliffe
In Rushcliffe, predictions by scientists suggest that the impact of climate change will make our summers warmer and drier and our winters warmer and wetter with more extreme weather conditions, for example more storms, floods and droughts. Studies in Rushcliffe have shown that in 2008 each person produced and average of 7.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. That’s the equivalent of each person leaving 40 lights switched on all the time.
What is Rushcliffe Borough Council doing?
Rushcliffe Borough Council regards climate change as an important issue and has identified this within its Corporate Strategy (2007-2011). The Council has committed to “developing a climate change action plan to explore ways the Council and residents of the Borough can minimise their contribution to global warming”.
- Our Revised Climate Change Action Plan 2014 - 2020 is available to view
- The Climate Change Strategy is available to view
- The Council has also signed the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change
What you can do?
- Look to see if you can cut down your carbon footprint with our Carbon footprint leaflet
- To calculate your carbon footprint visit: http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/
- See our Advice for householders
- See our Advice for businesses
- See our Community involvement in Environmental Issues page
- Watch our videos on community action
- The Energy Saving Trust provide more detailed advice.
- The Everybody's Talking about Climate Change website contains lots of information and resources for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire at http://www.everybodys-talking.org/
