Join our team!

Could you be our new Carbon Neutral Cornwall Partnership and Engagement Officer?

You'll love engaging with groups about climate change and emissions reduction to help support action at a local level - by communities, town and parish councils, businesses and sector groups. 

The overall aim of the role is to support and promote climate action in our communities.

Applications close on March 18 and the interview is scheduled for March 26.

Cornish parish releases carbon zero homes animation

As part of the commitment to meet the council’s net zero target by 2030, Stoke Climsland Carbon Zero Homes Project launched their short animation, which aims to introduce households to the benefits of improving the energy efficiency of their homes.
 

Could you be Cornwall's first Climate Commissioner?

Could you be one of the first Commissioners for the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Climate Commission?

A new Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Climate Commission is recruiting its first Commissioners to work with the region's leaders, organisations and communities to tackle ecological issues.

If you'd like to step forward or know someone who'd like to, click the button below. The deadline is 8 April.

The commission is an independent organisation bringing together people and organisations to help drive, support, and track climate action.
 

Shared Prosperity Fund - projects update

Projects across Cornwall have been successful in securing funding from the Shared Prosperity Fund...

The Future is Green project
Focusing on championing green occupations, this project offers individuals diverse career pathways for skill development and career progression - from entry-level positions to advanced roles. The project aims to break down barriers, empowering individuals and businesses alike to embrace sustainable practices and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The project is led by The Cornwall College Group (TCCG) in collaboration with Truro & Penwith College, Cornwall Marine Network, University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, Falmouth University, Focus Training (SW) Ltd, Urban Biodiversity CIC and Celtic Sea Power.

Community Energy Network (CEN) for the Isles of Scilly

The CEN will:

• Integrate existing Isles of Scilly Community Venture owned solar generation assets into the CEN and develop a roadmap for further local renewable generation
• Create a local energy tariff, which electricity users can sign up to, preferentially matching them with locally generated energy, when available, at a discount price.
• Accelerate domestic smart meter rollout, helping people take control of their electricity bills and understand their consumption
• Run an Energy Clinic supporting local residents to understand their bills, deal with supplier issues, identify ways to reduce energy costs and provide energy efficiency advice.

Creating a wetter upper Par catchment
Par has some of the highest concentrations of properties at risk of flooding in Cornwall. This project will create a longer-term resilience plan for the area. This will include extensive habitat restoration and creation at Helman Tor nature reserve, creating a ‘wetter landscape’ to help the land hold more water.

A new area of Helman Tor's nature reserve will be used as a demonstration site, whereby local landowners can see the impacts of effective management of the water environment. This also provides an opportunity to speak to land managers about opportunities for them to leverage private sector investment into habitat management work on their land.

In partnership with Cornwall Environmental Consultants (CEC), the team will survey a selection of sites and produce assessments to advise land managers on management of their water environment, biodiversity net gain and carbon credits.

To find out about other projects funded by the Shared Prosperity fund, click the button below.

To find out about new funding opportunities click here.

Launch of local climate adaptation tool

An innovative tool that gives individuals and teams the best available evidence in making decisions and identifying actions required to adapt to a changing climate has launched. 

Extreme weather events have severe implications for services ranging from emergency services to highways maintenance and social care. It can be difficult to understand the implications for specific fields and how best to avoid the worst impacts. This new tool makes the latest climate science accessible to decision makers, allowing them to plan for the future to provide the best services possible in a changing landscape. 

The Local Climate Adaptation Tool (LCAT) has been developed by a team from the University of Exeter and Cornwall Council, with input from more than 50 other local authority areas across the UK - including councils, health and emergency services.

A free webinar to learn how the tool works and how to use it to understand the impacts of climate will be held on 26^th March. Sign up here Supporting local climate adaptation and health using LCAT Tickets, Tue 26 Mar 2024 at 14:00 | Eventbrite

Free online training course

This one hour course, delivered online via Teams, will help you understand the science behind climate change, how global changes affect us locally, explain local and national climate policies - and how you can reduce your carbon impact. 

Click the button to find out more, including the dates and times when the course will run. Or you can book direct by clicking here.

Please pass on to friends, family members and work colleagues who may be interested.

Seagrass project update

Researchers at University of Exeter Cornwall and Natural Capital Solutions have discovered one of the biggest amounts of a rare type of seaweed ever found in UK waters. Watch the video to find out more.

Cornwall Council are working in partnership with University of Exeter Cornwall & Natural Capital Solutions to research and assess how effective Seagrass and seaweeds are at absorbing carbon from the atmosphere

This crucial data will hopefully lead to the protection of these vital seabed habitats.

Resident panel discusses the Local Area Energy Plan

Members of the Cornwall Residents’ Energy Panel have met to discuss how to achieve better energy security for the region, including looking at how we heat homes, travel and generate energy. 

The panellists, selected from across Cornwall by the Sortition Foundation, debated 'How should Cornwall transition to a net zero local energy system?' 

The Cornwall Residents’ Energy Panel is part of the government-funded Local Area Energy Plan being led by Cornwall Council and Council of the Isles of Scilly to make the region’s energy cheaper, more secure and sustainable - as well as boosting the green economy. 
  
When finished, the plan will recommend required changes to local area energy systems and infrastructure for heating, electricity and transport.    

It is the first time a local authority undertaking a Local Area Energy Plan has used a residents’ panel as part of the process. 

Later this year there will be a public consultation on the draft Local Area Energy Plan where all residents across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will have an opportunity to contribute their views. 

Take care, until next time...

Carbon Neutral Cornwall Team

More information
Web: www.cornwall.gov.uk/climatechange
Email: climatechange@cornwall.gov.uk

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