South Lakes Labour Westmorland & Lonsdale Constituency Labour Party
Climate Action: Who’s doing what?
Climate Action: Who’s doing what?
A quick guide to groups and organisations in South Lakes, Cumbria and beyond that are taking action on climate change.
(With thanks to Richard Thompson)
Community-based groups:
Ambleside Action for a Future
Ambleside Action for a Future is a network of local residents working together to mitigate climate and environmental breakdown and build community resilience to provide mutual emotional and practical support in the face of the worsening effects of climate breakdown.
Burneside Community Energy
Burneside Community Energy (BCE) Ltd is a community benefit society set up in November 2015 to support the development of community owned renewable energy and low carbon projects in Burneside and the surrounding area. BCE is wholly owned by its members, most of whom live locally. Since 2015, BCE has installed 998.5kW of solar panels on the roofs of buildings belonging to James Cropper PLC in Burneside. The electricity generated via these panels is sold to James Cropper. All profits derived from this are used to fund local community projects.
Kendal Futures
Kendal Futures is a public/private sector partnership created out of the desire to make Kendal a better place for businesses to operate and for people of working age to live and work. It produced Kendal Vision, launched September 2019: https://www.kendalfutures.co.uk/inspiration-for-change-in-kendal/
Residents are now being invited to join Vision Action Groups on transport and getting around and placemaking (landscape and environment). Dates and times of meetings are on the website.
South Lakes Action on Climate Change
The aim of South Lakes Action on Climate Change Towards Transition (SLACCtt) is to address the twin issues of climate change and peak oil within the area by decreasing the dependence of the community on fossil fuels, lowering carbon emissions and by building a stronger, resilient community that is able to be more independent in areas such as food, energy, transport, healthcare and economics.
Sustainable Staveley
www.sustainablestaveley.org.uk
A sustainability and energy network in Staveley (SENS) working on green energy projects, sustainable transport and the Clean River Kent Campaign.
Cumbrian climate bodies:
Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS)
Cumbria’s climate change and sustainability organisation, based in Penrith, offering independent advice and services, including:
- Cold to Cosy Homes programme
- Calculate your carbon footprint
- Advice on solar, heat pumps, and government grant support
- Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership
Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership
LEPs are business-led partnerships between local authorities and the private sector whose role is to determine local economic priorities and undertake activities to drive economic growth and the creation of jobs. CLEP recognises that climate change is a threat to our future. To achieve the target of being carbon neutral by 2050, we must all take responsibility and play our part to achieve a significant reduction in our emissions.
Cumbria Wildlife Trust
www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/about
Standing up for wildlife. Also hosts the Cumbria Local Nature Partnership.
Council and public bodies:
Cumbria County Council
Environment, Planning – Climate Change | Cumbria County Council
Useful summary – with links to supporting information – on CCC’s work on climate change and how you can get involved.
Cumbria Transport Infrastructure Plan 2022-2037 Cumbria Transport Infrastructure Plan
Sets out plans to decarbonise transport networks.
Consulted on cycling and walking provision in Kendal, 2021:
https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/elibrary/Content/Internet/535/6004/44322193318.pdf
Lakes Line electrification announced 2014, £16m promised – plans scrapped by Conservative Government in 2017. Electrification is included as an objective in the Cumbria Transport Infrastructure Plan.
Kendal Town Council
Kendal Town Council Action Plan on Climate Change 2021/22:
Kendal Citizens’ Jury on Climate Change recommendations:
Zero Carbon Kendal – Zero Carbon Kendal
Maps people and projects in Kendal working on carbon reduction.
20 mph study for Kendal. January 2021: Town Council gave full support, including setting aside a capital sum, and sought support from the County Council whose decision it would be on arterial roads. CCC considering the proposals (late March/April 2022).
https://www.kendaltowncouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Final-20mph-report.pdf
Lake District National Park
LDNP Five Year Plan, adopted November 2021 Outcome 2: Climate action https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/caringfor/lake-district-national-park-partnership/management-plan/climate-action
Go car-free in Cumbria this summer (2021) https://www.visitlakedistrict.com/blog/read/2021/08/go-car-free-and-care-free-in-cumbria-this-summer-b110
Campaign for National Parks: making car-free travel easier https://www.cnp.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploadsfiles/National_Parks_car-free_travel_HIRESDPS.pdf
South Lakeland District Council
SLDC Climate Change Action Plan 2021:
Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council
In March this year, the Furness Citizens’ Jury on Climate Change delivered its report, with 32 recommendations.
https://barrowbc.gov.uk/climate-emergency/citizens-jury/recommendations-of-the-jury/
Beyond Cumbria:
Energy Saving Trust
https://energysavingtrust.org.uk
An independent national organisation, offering a wide range of advice and help.
Local Energy North West Hub
Local Energy North West Hub is a regional programme to promote investment in energy projects, which works with public sector organisations to improve the business case for their energy schemes. It can help direct local businesses to available funding for clean energy solutions. Links to the Rural Community Energy Fund.
Climate Emergency UK
Council Climate Score Cards: check out the independent scoring of our councils’ climate change action plans and compare them with other UK councils:
About | Council Climate Scorecards