It was very pleasing to note from the latest National Assembly research on carbon dioxide emissions, that the Welsh capital has made the most progress in Wales. A not insignificant reduction in CO2 emissions of 10.8% was made in Cardiff between 2005 and 2007.
That figure is over a percent more than the area with the second biggest Welsh reduction.
The research also revealed Cardiff also has the lowest domestic carbon dioxide emissions in Wales.
Since first taking on the leadership of Cardiff Council in 2004, the Liberal Democrats have worked hard to place environmental concerns at the heart of the council’s policy agenda.
We have built new council houses with key environmental features such as solar panels, ground source heat pumps and insulation made from recycled newspaper. We have dramatically improved the city’s recycling performance, and in 2008 we became the first UK city to provide a weekly kerbside collection of food waste for every street.
A number of sustainable transport initiatives have also been taken forward – such as the newly-opened Cardiff East park and ride site; the pedestrianisation of The Hayes, High Street and St Mary Street; greater investment in cycling facilities; our new bike hire scheme which operates in the city centre and Cardiff Bay; and a new bridge to the Sports Village site just for pedestrians and cyclists which is currently under construction.
In the last three years, we have made a specific commitment to reduce 60 per cent of the authority’s carbon emissions from non domestic buildings and waste by 2018, and we are the first local authority in Wales to set such an ambitious target.
During that time, a total of 66 separate energy efficiency projects have been completed in 53 council buildings. Examples include loft and cavity wall insulation, heating controls, pool covers on swimming pools to reduce heating and ventilation costs and motor controls on pool pumps and ventilation fans.
There have been some shining individual examples of reductions in C02 emissions at Llanishen High School (18 per cent), Llanishen Leisure Centre (21 per cent), Michaelston Community College (28 per cent) and Wilcox House (22 per cent).
New-build and refurbishment projects have also sought to introduce as many environmentally-friendly features into construction as has been feasible. These have included the refurbishments of Western Leisure Centre, Penylan Library and Hawthorn Primary School. Our most notable environmentally-friendly construction project is the new landmark Central Library which was built to the nationally-recognised BREEAM excellence standard.
The Welsh Assembly’s latest report is pleasing confirmation that we are making excellent progress in reducing our carbon emissions and helping to lead the way throughout Wales.
The importance of this project cannot be underestimated. Not only is it vitally essential for the environment but by significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions we are also making big efficiency savings right across the city. Given the current constraints placed upon us in funding for public services as a result of the recession – including the impact of the money spent by the UK Government bailing out the banks – this is obviously very welcome at this moment in time.
Public sector organisations currently account for approximately five per cent of the UK’s overall carbon emissions – equivalent to around 21 million tonnes of CO2. Cardiff Council, under Liberal Democrat leadership, is fully committed to helping to radically reduce that figure by meeting our targets and tackling this major environmental challenge head on.
Notes: The full Assembly report can be found at: http://www.assemblywales.org/09-037.pdf
Rodney Berman is the Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader of Cardiff Council
Related posts:
Recent comments