Green project is going for zero
CARMARTHENSHIRE Council has strengthened its commitment to tackling climate change with the launch of a new campaign as part of its net carbon zero target.
Prosiect Zero Sir Gâr will shine a spotlight on every effort that continues to be made as the authority works towards being completely carbon neutral by 2030.
It will involve thousands of council staff, schoolchildren, businesses and residents and hopes to inspire and encourage everyone to play their part in tackling climate change by reducing the county’s carbon footprint.
Every effort and change made, large or small, will help towards the target of becoming net carbon zero, say council leaders.
Prosiect Zero Sir Gâr calls on people to make changes, share ideas, and start conversations at home, in shops and offices, in classrooms and on social media to encourage everyone to work together to tackle climate change.
Schoolchildren will be encouraged to become Prosiect Zero Super Heroes by learning about the issue and taking positive action at school and at home to help protect the planet for their future.
The project launch coincided with the first day of COP26, the global summit for climate action currently being hosted by the UK in Glasgow.
COP26 has brought world leaders together to address climate change, limit global warming and cut carbon emissions as part of co-ordinated actions.
In February 2019, Carmarthenshire Council was one of the first local authorities to declare a climate emergency, and made a commitment to becoming a net zero carbon local authority by 2030. It has since been the first local authority in Wales to publish a net zero carbon action plan, which was endorsed by the full council in February 2020.
Prosiect Zero Sir Gâr will raise awareness about what the council is already doing and aims to mobilise more action from staff, residents, businesses and schools.
Cllr Ann Davies, who holds the cabinet portfolio for climate change, said this was an opportunity for everyone to get involved in making real change for the good of future generations.
“We must all take action now; climate change is already having an impact in Carmarthenshire,” she said.
“Every one of us can make a difference. It could be as simple as turning our thermostats down a degree, switching off our lights when they’re not needed, or recycling as much as we possibly can.
“By launching Prosiect Zero Sir Gâr we want to inspire collective action. The smallest of actions will build together to make a big difference.
“As an authority, Carmarthenshire Council is absolutely committed to becoming net carbon zero by 2030.
“We have already made massive strides towards this but we recognise more needs to be done. We need everyone – our staff, our residents, businesses and schools – to come together and do more.
“Talk to each other, educate yourself on climate change and take positive action. Tell us what you are doing so we can share ideas and inspire others. We can do this if we all work together.”
Carmarthenshire Council’s action towards net carbon zero covers every area of its services – more information on many of these measures is being shared as part of the Prosiect Zero Sir Gâr launch.
It involves everything from ensuring that all new major building projects such as homes and schools are energy efficient and incorporate renewable energy, to retro-fitting older buildings with an extensive range of energy conservation measures, including solar PV panels, LED lighting replacement, lighting controls, pipework insulation, building fabric improvements, boiler upgrades and water and heat-saving technology.
As well as procuring all its electricity from renewable energy sources, the council has made other efforts to reduce carbon emissions, including converting street lights to low energy LED and upgrading its fleet to include electric cars and more energy-efficient refuse and gritting vehicles.
The authority is also working with other public bodies to deliver wider change, and is exploring opportunities for tree planting and renewable energy generation on council-owned land.