After the disappointing lack of vision from the government this week, Sarah-Jayne Russell takes heart from the Scottish green awards
George Osborne’s conviction that the UK shouldn’t attempt to lead Europe in cutting carbon emissions was a sad commentary on the self-styled “greenest government” and its attitude towards tackling climate change.
Despite the frequently espoused view that the UK’s economic future lies in positioning itself at the forefront of developing green technology that ensures low-carbon energy, fewer greenhouse-gas emissions and drives resource efficiency, the government, or at least the Treasury, seems to lack the courage of that conviction.
And if the Conservative party conference is anything to go by the gap between the real world and the rhetoric seems to be growing.
It’s a good job then that plenty of organisations are not waiting to be forced by the government to re-examine their environmental impacts. At the Scottish green awards last week, I heard about schools, businesses, councils and community groups that not only acknowledge, but embrace the challenge of lowering their carbon footprint and improving their use of resources, and engage others to do the same.
It was inspiring stuff to hear of how transport firm First has taken the time to train the staff in its East Scotland division in how to drive more efficiently, cutting fuel usage by 4.5%, and how the St Enoch shopping centre in Glasgow has been able to eliminate waste to landfill, recycling 1,300 tonnes of waste each year.
Meanwhile in the public sector, social enterprise Changeworks was recognised for its sterling efforts in helping individuals and organisations improve the energy efficiency of their property and escape fuel poverty. During 2010–11, the charity helped to cut CO2 emissions in Scotland by more than 575,000 tonnes and diverted 5,700 tonnes of waste from landfill.
The awards also recognise the efforts of Scottish schools working to inspire the next generation with a greater understanding of what it means to live sustainably. Both award winners, Clachan Primary and Craighead Primary, not only embed environmental issues into the curriculum, but have installed renewable energy technologies. Clachan, one of the smallest schools in Scotland, even has its own orchard and polytunnel, supplementing schools meals.
While there are clearly financial incentives to improving fuel efficiency, generating their own electricity and cutting waste, for all of the awards’ finalists it was obviously not the main driver. Many of the winners, as they came up to accept their awards, made it clear that there was still more to do.
Glenn Bennett, managing director of EAE – winner of the best green SME award – even confessed that he wasn’t sure if his company’s ambition to become carbon neutral was even possible. “But if we keep trying continuously to improve maybe we can get there,” he said.
When you are lumbered with a government that appears to be dedicated to sticking safely to the middle of the pack, it is great to be reminded that there are individuals and organisations out there dedicated to trying to break new ground.
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