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Take a sneak peak at Green Build 2019

You are the first to get a sneak preview of this year’s Cumbria Green Build & Sustainable Living Festival! We are still busily putting the final touches on our whopping list of 50 or so events, but we’re peeling back the curtain so you can see what’s in store for you when they open for booking later in July. Keep an eye on our website and social media towards the middle of the month to have first choice! Open homes: No Green Build Festival would be complete without the chance to visit real homes with energy-saving design, renewable energy [...]

By |2019-06-28T21:30:24+01:00June 28th, 2019|Cumbria Green Build Festival, Homepage, News|Comments Off on Take a sneak peak at Green Build 2019
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Government announces plan to reach ‘almost’ net zero by 2050

We welcome the Government's announcement today of a new plan to cut UK emissions to 'almost zero' by 2050 - but the climate science calls for much greater urgency. This is a wonderful sign that there is political will to move in the right direction, compared to the Government's previous 80% target by 2050, but the Government must go much further must faster. Particularly in light of the UK's historic contribution to global emissions, CAfS agrees with calls for the UK to reach net zero by 2030. The UN's report by the IPCC last October was very clear - [...]

By |2019-06-28T13:00:53+01:00June 12th, 2019|Climate politics, News|Comments Off on Government announces plan to reach ‘almost’ net zero by 2050
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New coordinator gets Green Build Festival planning under way

We welcomed a new team member in May, with Nigel Jenkins joining us to coordinate our flagship Cumbria Green Build and Sustainable Living Festival, with headline sponsor Electricity North West. Nigel brings an impressive mix of skills, combining engineering, training, event management and film making. He has first-hand experience of eco building, after renovating his old farmhouse in Eden – not to mention winning his region’s Lego competition as a youngster. In short, he’s well placed to build a fantastic festival this year! Already on the cards are courses on using lime, visits to low-energy homesteads, a straw bale [...]

By |2019-05-31T13:57:56+01:00May 31st, 2019|Cumbria Green Build Festival, News|Comments Off on New coordinator gets Green Build Festival planning under way
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Alston residents asked for views on housing

A survey has just gone out on Alston Moor to understand the area’s housing needs, supported by CAfS’ Greenprint programme. The survey asks residents about their homes and how well they meet their different needs, both now and into the future. It explores whether homes are fit to live in, asking about issues like damp and energy efficiency, as well as wider needs like space for food growing. The survey was created by Alston Moor’s community-led housing group, thanks to funding from Eden District Council’s community housing fund. Being bespoke to the area, the survey touches on issues that [...]

By |2019-05-31T11:51:23+01:00May 31st, 2019|Alston Moor Greenprint, Community-led housing, News|Comments Off on Alston residents asked for views on housing
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Elections change Cumbria’s political landscape

The council elections in May have changed the local political landscape in Cumbria, and CAfS is watching with interest to see what this might mean for efforts to tackle the climate crisis. Following the elections, three of the six district-level councils in Cumbria now have no overall control by one party: Carlisle (previously Labour-led), Eden (previously Conservative-led) and Allerdale (previously Labour was the largest party). South Lakeland remains under Liberal Democrat control, while Barrow and Copeland remain Labour-led. Independents and Green Party candidates faired well. Four Green councillors were elected in Cumbria – the first at district level (two [...]

By |2019-05-31T15:00:27+01:00May 30th, 2019|Climate politics, News|Comments Off on Elections change Cumbria’s political landscape
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CAfS to host youth climate question time for 20th anniversary

Children and young people from across Cumbria will have the chance to tell people in positions of power what they think about climate change, and ask them what they are doing to solve it. CAfS is holding a climate question time event in Penrith on Friday 5 July, where a panel of politicians (including MPs), an activist and a climate expert will answer questions submitted in advance by young people from across Cumbria. The questions will be put to them at the event by an interview panel of young people representing the voice of children across the county. The [...]

By |2019-06-01T09:02:09+01:00May 30th, 2019|Climate politics, Homepage, News, Youth|Comments Off on CAfS to host youth climate question time for 20th anniversary
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Target reached for Alston school solar crowdfund

The solar dreams of Alston schools have come true after a crowdfunding campaign raised the money needed for a 27 kW solar PV array. The campaign was run by Alston Moor Community Energy (AMCE) and marks the group's first successful installation of renewable energy in the area. It raised its full target of £22,300, to install the maximum size of array on the roof of the Alston Primary and Samuel Kings’ schools. Kit England, one of AMCE’s directors, said: “We’re delighted to have hit our target and we’re extremely grateful to all those individuals and businesses who pledged donations [...]

By |2019-06-12T12:30:09+01:00May 30th, 2019|Alston Moor Greenprint, Community energy, News, Renewable energy|Comments Off on Target reached for Alston school solar crowdfund
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Ambleside group’s zero carbon ambitions get a boost

A community group in Ambleside with a goal for the town to become net zero carbon had a major boost in May after South Lakeland District Council announced a package of support. Thanks to the council’s funding, CAfS will work alongside the Ambleside Action for a Future group to help them decide on a programme of actions to reduce carbon emissions. Announcing the support at a meeting in the town on 20th May, Councillor Dyan Jones, the council’s portfolio holder for climate emergency and localism, said: "Wise and prudent spending at South Lakeland District Council means we are able [...]

By |2019-06-28T13:01:25+01:00May 30th, 2019|News|Comments Off on Ambleside group’s zero carbon ambitions get a boost
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CAfS response to Environment Agency flood adaptation warning

The Environment Agency has called for spending of around £1 billion a year on flood adaptation, with a warning that some communities may need to move because of the risk of floods. The story has been widely reported in the media today, as the Agency launches a new consultation on its flood strategy. We agree with calls by Emma Howard Boyd, chair of the Environment Agency, for more funding for flood management and with the Agency’s assessment of the scale of adaptation that’s needed, but the UK must take urgent action to cut carbon emissions so that we can [...]

By |2019-06-12T12:30:23+01:00May 9th, 2019|News|Comments Off on CAfS response to Environment Agency flood adaptation warning
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CAfS welcomes UK climate emergency

There have been two really important developments in tackling climate change this week. No 1: Parliament has backed a motion by the Labour Party to declare a climate emergency in the UK. It also "calls on the government to aim to achieve net-zero emissions before 2050 and for ministers to outline urgent proposals to restore the UK's natural environment and deliver a "zero waste economy" within the next six months." Read more > No 2: The UK's Committee on Climate Change (which advises the govt) has said it would be possible for the UK to cut carbon emissions to [...]

By |2019-05-31T10:04:44+01:00May 3rd, 2019|Climate politics, News|Comments Off on CAfS welcomes UK climate emergency
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