 Sustainable Development in Monmouthshire |
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| Page revised and updated 16th August 2009 | |||
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Sustainable Development - What on Earth is it all about?
Hmmm. Sustainable Development. Not a very catchy phrase, is it? But in a nutshell, sustainable development is all about trying to live our lives in a way that doesn't damage the Earth for generations to come. It involves not only looking at the environmental costs, but also at how to improve people's quality of life, their health and their economic situation. It is difficult to believe that an individual or a community can make any difference at all to some of the huge problems like global warming, peak oil, poverty and so on. But the truth is that these problems cannot be addressed without our help. The decisions we make about how we live, what we do, what we buy and so on have strong impacts on people around the world. Here in Monmouthshire the local authority has been working with local communities, groups and statutory bodies to make some of the changes that are desperately needed to safeguard the future of the planet. More people and organisations are coming together to think of new ways to tackle these problems to make Monmouthshire a better place to live, work and visit. Use the navigation below to move quickly to the area that interests you. |
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Sustainable Development - Council policies and practice Sustainable development is an important priority for Monmouthshire County Council, and the Sustainable Development team works hard to try and integrate sustainable development into all that the Council does. By leading by example, providing best practice and enabling communities, the council can play a big part in helping to work towards a sustainable future. The Sustainable Development Team consists of 2 full time equivalent officers that sit in the Policy Unit at the heart of Monmouthshire County Council. For more information, please contact the Sustainable Development Co-ordinator on 01633 644843.
Sustainable Development policy
All new staff
undertake induction training, which includes a session on what
sustainable development is and new starters are encouraged to think
about how it applies to their service. |
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Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Strategy
In February 2008, Cabinet agreed to adopt the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Strategy, that the Council produced by working together with other organisations. The Strategy summarises the work done so far and sets out what needs to happen over the next 5 years from 2008-2013. It is really important that the objectives in the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Strategy actually happen. To make sure they do, detailed action plans have been produced for each of the themes in the Strategy, after visioning and action planning workshops were held in the spring of 2008. Council officers, partner organisations and members of the community were involved in developing these detailed action plans which include targets, timescales and responsibilities. These action plans may be viewed on GreenWeb here.
Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Strategy action plans |
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Local Authority
Carbon Management Programme In May 2008, Monmouthshire County Council joined the Local Authority Carbon Management Programme. As part of this scheme, the Carbon Trust provides technical and change management support to help us realise carbon emissions savings. The aim is to reduce emissions under the direct control of the council - whether caused by energy use in buildings, street lighting, or vehicle fleets. Consultants are helping us with workshops, meetings and other support tailored around a 5 step process. The process guides us through: a systematic analysis of our carbon footprint, a calculation of the value at stake and the case for taking action, an assessment of opportunities to help manage carbon emissions, development of structured action plans for realising carbon savings and embedding carbon management in our day to day business. We have a Project Team to deliver the programme and a Project Board of senior managers and Councillors to give a corporate drive and commitment. |
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Interdirectorate
Sustainable Development group Each directorate within Monmouthshire County Council has a senior officer on this group, which was established in January 2008. The aims of the group are:
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In Monmouthshire the Sustainable Development Team work with community groups, schools, voluntary bodies and other agencies on different sustainable development projects. Some examples of these are listed below, for more information please contact: Colette Mooney, 01633 644108. |
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Monmouthshire GreenWeb GreenWeb is a network of organisations working to conserve the environment of Monmouthshire. Members exchange information and opinions with each other and with the wider public. Members of GreenWeb range from government agencies to small local groups. Members contribute to the site and share information with other members and visitors to the site.
GreenWeb is also the
place where you can find out about the
Environment Partnership Board (EPB). The Environment Partnership
Board is hosting pages for Monmouthshire's Climate Change and
Sustainable Energy Strategy, (including 3 Community Action Plans for the
main towns) via the GreenWeb site. To find out more,
click here. |
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Fairtrade - Monmouthshire is a Fairtrade County
Monmouthshire County Council passed a resolution to encourage and support the use and sale of Fairtrade products where appropriate and we became a Fairtrade County in November 2008. We are playing our part in helping Wales to maintain its status as the world's first Fairtrade Nation! Fairtrade is important because many people producing lots of the products we use everyday such as tea, coffee and chocolate are not getting a fair wage - currently many receive as little as 75p a day! This means people are living in poverty without enough money for, or access to, food, clean water, medicine, books and education. Fairtrade ensures that producers in developing countries earn a living wage for their work. Buying goods with the Fairtrade Mark means that producers get a fair price for their goods and it improves the lives of millions of people in developing countries. Everyone can be involved in being part of the solution. It makes you feel great too! If you eat a Fairtrade chocolate bar you can feel good instead of guilty, because you know you're helping to make a difference. Buying Fairtrade goods has never been easier. There are now more than 2000 products with the FAIRTRADE Mark including; chocolate, coffee, fruit, spices, footballs and socks. Many of these are readily available in our local shops. In Monmouthshire, we have over 50 shops, cafes, pubs, B and Bs and hotels using and providing Fairtrade goods. In addition, lots of workplaces and church groups support Fairtrade by using it for all their refreshments for staff, visitors and parishioners. Your support makes a real difference; there has been a 40% increase in Fairtrade sales every year in the UK since Fairtrade products were first introduced. For a copy of the Monmouthshire Fairtrade Directory 2008/9 click here. For further information about local Fairtrade initiatives, click on one of the towns - Chepstow, Monmouth and Abergavenny. To find out more about Fairtrade in Wales click here. To get involved or find out more about Fairtrade Town Groups near you or Fairtrade Schools, contact: Colette Mooney, Sustainable Communities Officer on 01633 644108 or by email: colettemooney@monmouthshire.gov.uk
If you would like to
find out more about the Fairtrade Foundation,
click here to enter their web
site. |
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Eco-schools work takes learning beyond the classroom, the whole school community is involved; parents, teaching staff, caretakers, cooks, pupils and governors. Everybody works together to improve the sustainability, and reduce the environmental impact, of their school. All the children are involved through the Eco-council - suggesting ideas for improvement, making decisions and implementing actions - these have included setting up Power Police in schools to make sure all lights and equipment are switched off when not in use, composting fruit tuck and collecting rain water to grow crops. It's not just schools that have signed up to this scheme; MCC's Gilwern Outdoor Education Centre has achieved Eco-centre status with Talybont, and Hilston Park working towards this too. If you would like to find out more, do please contact Colette Mooney, Sustainable Communities Officer, Monmouthshire County Council, County Hall, Cwmbran, NP44 2XH (Tel 01633644108)
Further information |
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The Council for the
Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) Schools Competition Each year MCC and CPRW run a schools competition in which children can enter a poster, artwork or written work on a theme suggested by CPRW, past themes have included:
This competition is organised jointly by Monmouthshire County Council and the CPRW. Wales, and our county in particular, has beautiful and varied countryside. The way that much of the land around us looks today reflects man's impact over the thousands of years that people have lived in this area. People have always depended on the land and its resources. Now, perhaps more than ever, we are aware that our lifestyle choices have an impact on our landscape and environment, both locally and globally. The CPRW campaigns to safeguard the Welsh landscape and to maintain the vitality of rural communities. The theme for 2009 was a Grand Design Challenge.
For more information
please contact; Colette Mooney, Sustainable Communities Officer,
Monmouthshire County Council, County Hall, Cwmbran, NP44 2XH (Tel
01633644108), or visit the CPRW page on GreenWeb. |
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| Contact Us: | |||
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Sustainable Communities Officer Policy Unit Monmouthshire County Council County Hall Cwmbran NP44 2XH
01633 644108
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Hazel Clatworthy / Alison Howard Sustainable Development Coordinator (job share) Policy Unit Monmouthshire County Council County Hall Cwmbran NP44 2XH
01633 644843
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In the spring of
2006, Monmouthshire County Council, along with all other Welsh local
authorities signed up to the Welsh Commitment to Address Climate Change.
Then a joint member and officer Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
working group was set up to make recommendations about Climate Change
and Energy, via the Economy and Development Select Committee, to
Cabinet.
Monmouthshire's
Fairtrade Town community groups are all working really hard to promote
Fairtrade. Abergavenny, Chepstow, Monmouth and Usk have achieved
Fairtrade town status. Monmouth Comprehensive School is a Fairtrade
school and many primary schools are working towards this goal too.
Together with the many faith groups, businesses, workplaces and
individuals who are committed to supporting and promoting Fairtrade, the
people of Monmouthshire are helping to make a real and positive
difference to the lives of millions of people in developing countries.
Schools all across
Wales, Britain and Europe are signing up to the Eco-school programme. The
Green Flag is a prestigious, internationally recognised label of high
achievement in Education for Sustainable Development. We have 5 Green Flag,
gold standard Eco-schools in Monmouthshire. These schools are leading the
way - raising awareness about our precious planet and the impact our actions
have on it, both locally and globally. 