Could Folkestone become the UK’s first Carbon Neutral
Town?
The Grandfather clock was ticking in the corner of the oak panelled library and
the only other discernable noise was the quiet clatter of a few coffee cups and
the muted conversation from elderly gentlemen nestled in their leather
Chesterfield armchairs. I was at The Travellers Club in the heart of London’s
Pall Mall to meet with Andrew Mitchell, Chairman of the Rainforest Global Canopy
Project. Andrew and I had shared experiences of scientific expeditions that we
had embarked upon in our youth in the early 80’s. Since then I had established a
career in the City and Andrew has remained an ardent exponent of rainforest
ecology, and is one of a very few experts on the ecosystems that thrive amongst
the canopies of the worlds tropical rainforests. This is the true home of
biodiversity. Two-thirds of all species of the Earths’ flora and fauna exist in
this lush, elevated environment.
I was taken aback when Andrew commented that “After 30 years as a scientist, I
have come to the conclusion that conservationism is no match for commercialism”.
Not only did his words surprise me, but more so the enthusiasm with which he had
stated them. For years Andrew has been fighting campaigns against illegal
loggers, corruption and slash and burn clearance of primary rainforest by
“agriculturalists” who farm palm oil, soya and cattle where giant trees recently
stood - most of this new produce is exported to the West along with the illegal
timber. Andrew could however foresee an emerging market in rainforest
preservation and reforestation where local people could earn a sustainable
living from the stewardship of their natural habitat. His paradigm shift in
thinking was a result of the emerging market of carbon trading - the ability for
commercial entities to encourage protection of these vulnerable regions in
return for earning “Carbon Credits”.
The carbon market is truly innovative. Although it works like any other
commodity market, what is being traded is not physical goods and services but a
concept. The trade is not in carbon, but in non-carbon: in certificates
establishing that so many tonnes of carbon dioxide (or the equivalent in other
greenhouse gases) have not been emitted by the seller and may therefore be
utilised by the buyer. The market has two purposes. First to set a price for
carbon emissions and second, to encourage efficient emissions reductions by
allowing companies which find it impossible to cut emissions entirely (such as
power generators burning coal and gas) to buy credits that promote the reduction
of emissions elsewhere.
Our conversation left me feeling enthusiastic. My experience with the City
financial markets, and my interest in finding practical solutions to complex
issues, enabled me to visualise all sorts of potential “win-win” opportunities
where buyers could be introduced to sellers, the net benefit being the
preservation of an endangered environment and a reduction in global CO²
emissions.
It also got me to thinking how Folkestone, the town my family and I decided to
make our home six years ago, could benefit from reducing its own “carbon
footprint” and offsetting its residual emissions to the benefit of the greater
good. I was given the opportunity to present a discussion paper at the July 4th,
2007 meeting of the Go Folkestone! Environmental Committee; they embraced the
concept.
A few years ago, the subject of global warming would have been considered the
domain of scientists (like Andrew) and a few radical environmentalists. However,
we have now seen the issue transfer to the mainstream and we are all being asked
to “do our bit” in terms of saving the planet for future generations.
The UK Government recently took a bold stance and stated it would set a
benchmark of reducing CO² levels to 60% of the 1990 emission levels by 2050,
well beyond the reduction in carbon emissions within its Kyoto agreement
commitments. To achieve this, the Government will require all UK domiciled
businesses and the population as a whole to engage in emissions reductions.
As a result, we are now being offered eco-friendly and energy saving products
and services. We are encouraged to take public transport, cycle, recycle,
conserve energy, offset our own car, ferry and flight carbon footprints and will
shortly be compelled to provide an energy efficiency report through Home
Information Packs (HIPS) when selling our homes (within certain criteria).
Likewise, commercial entities including utility providers and high street
retailers are actively promoting their green credentials by way of high profile
marketing campaigns as a way of stating their own commitment to Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) strategies.
So, in a nutshell, what is climate change?
The average temperature near and above the Earth’s surface has risen by 0.6°c
over the last century or so, according to an increasing body of scientific
knowledge. There is evidence of continuing decreases of snow and ice cover over
parts of our planet. This climate change is often referred to as global warming.
Over the age of the Earth (around 4.5 billion years) average temperature change
has meant many ice ages and intervening warmer periods. What appears to be
different now is that warming is sustained, rapid and associated with human
activities (anthropogenic change), in ways that could not have occurred before.
The Earth’s atmosphere contains a small proportion (about 0.4%) of Carbon
Dioxide (CO²). One of the properties of this gas is to make the planet’s average
temperature about 30 degrees Celsius warmer than it would otherwise be. This
property makes carbon dioxide one of a number of “greenhouse gases”.
Most greenhouse gases contain carbon, hence the use of such expressions as
carbon footprint and carbon reduction. Carbon is a component of organic
chemicals and of living things. It is found in fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas)
which are extracted and produced for human consumption.
The concentration of CO² in the Earth’s lower atmosphere has increased by around
a third since the beginning of the industrial revolution during the mid 18th
Century. It is continuing to rise. That increase – given the potential of
greenhouse gases to warm the planet- is what has lead to the current concern
around climate change. The 1990’s was the warmest decade on modern record.
Eleven of the 12 warmest years since 1850 have occurred since 1995.
Scientific study tells us that average temperatures may rise between 1°C and 6°C
over the 21st Century. There is a range of statistical uncertainty, and the
current consensus is for an increase of between 2°C and 4°C. It is important to
be aware that mankind, since it’s earliest existence on the planet, has never
had to survive where the average temperature has been above 5°C of today’s
levels. Therefore if temperature rises exceed 5°C, mankind as a species will be
heading into unknown territory. The effects of extreme climate change could lead
to wars, mass migrations, disease, land loss, food shortages and “natural”
disasters. According to a recent report, climate change will force 850 million
people to leave their homes between now and 2050, greatly exacerbating the
global migration crisis.
Why should Folkestone take a collective approach to this issue?
The main problem with most carbon reduction initiatives is the failure to engage
communities at local level. The climate agenda, for many, is still not accepted
as a serious issue and is often viewed as the domain of environmental activists
or considered a matter beyond the realms of individual influence. To a certain
extent, the latter may be true. However, the critical mass of a community taking
action is a different proposition entirely. A family can recycle waste…a
community can embrace the technologies that process that waste into energy. For
example, by the use of bio-digestion mechanisms that converts garden cuttings
and other bio-degradable materials into fuels and electricity (what happens to
the contents of our garden waste wheelie bins at present?). A householder can
switch off the lights…the community can influence local authorities and local
businesses to adopt more efficient street and industrial lighting (the light
pollution and energy waste emitted from the Eurotunnel site when seen
approaching Folkestone at night on the southbound M20 is a classic example of
this environmental impact). A family can convert to renewable energy
resources…but with its ideal location, Folkestone can generate its own power
from renewable sources through bio-digestion and the deployment of sensitively
sited wind and tidal power turbines. Folkestone could become a net contributor
to the National Grid, thus reducing utility bills and earning revenue for the
town, again through the collective actions of its inhabitants and businesses.
If we were to go beyond the “tipping point” where corrective action is too late
to avoid catastrophic change, then we are all in “deep water”, both physically
and metaphorically speaking. There will be little point in looking forward to
the regeneration of Folkestone seafront and harbour if they are submerged as a
result of climate change and rising sea levels!
With the regeneration of Folkestone, and its arts and culture focus, the
potential for additional “Eco-Tourism” for the town is immense. One of the
positive impacts of global warming is the re-emergence of British seaside towns
as potential holiday destinations. Folkestone was once famous for its Pavilion
and Botanical Gardens. Money raised by community energy efficiency and
“renewables” incentives could, in addition to reducing fuel bills, help fund a
new flagship botanical feature along the lines of the Eden Project or the
Eco-Forest project in St Helens, creating a major tourist attraction, a home for
scientific study and a source of local employment.
The “new build” element of the Foster Folkestone regeneration master plan
already has energy efficient designs incorporated within it and there is scope
for extending these principles to enable the existing (mainly Edwardian)
commercial premises and housing stock of the town to be provided with energy
efficient/energy generation technologies such as wall and loft insulation and
solar panels. These could be made available at heavily discounted prices through
the provision of local grants and bulk purchase arrangements.
Most importantly, this initiative can bring community spirit to the whole town,
breaking down social divides, engaging schools, workplaces and enhancing
recreational facilities.
By adopting a “top-down / bottom-up” approach with contributions from the
community, media, business and local government stakeholders alike, Folkestone
could become a shining example of a bright new era and, in doing so, contribute
to the preservation of the Earth from the impending uncertainties of the effects
of global warming.
The Go Folkestone! Carbon Neutral Initiative welcomes feedback from townsfolk
and all potential stakeholders within our community. It is proposed to hold an
open debate on this issue as part of the Folkestone Literary Festival in
November, further details are to be announced. In the meantime, to express your
support for this initiative, click here.
© Trevor Moss, July 2007
article by Trevor Moss
Article from Go Folkestone Newsletter September 2007
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