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Launch of the New Forest Carbon Footprint Project

Over 40 invited guests attended an evening event to launch the New Forest Carbon Footprint Project, an innovative community project in Brockenhurst, aimed at raising awareness about climate change and its potential impact on the New Forest. The guests from a wide range of community groups within Brockenhurst watched exerts from former American Vice President Al Gore’s film ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ and the Schumacher lecture, ‘Apocalypse Postponed’ by investigative journalist and environmentalist George Monbiot. The videos presented the scientific arguments for man made climate change and challenged the notions put forward by climate skeptics.

Paul de Zylva, the Chairman of Friends of the Earth, England then spoke of how climate change is now a mainstream, no-party political issue and that the role of CO2 emissions as the primary cause of global warming is now accepted by the vast majority of the world’s scientific community. He outlined the role of Friends of the Earth in campaigning for legislation to combat climate change and of how approximately 420 MP’s from across all party’s supported the call for the Climate Change Bill currently going through Parliament. He then highlighted the New Forest Carbon Footprint Project as part of the solution to climate change stating that it is by individual, community and national action that that we can take the lead in preventing the worst effects of climate change and averting the worst case scenarios of the impact of global warming.

After a break for cheese, wine and animated conversation Clive Chatters the Chairman of the New Forest National Park Authority delivered a lively presentation about why climate change is relevant to the National Park Authority. He stated that climate change will affect the special qualities of the New Forest. For example, it is predicted that within the next 60 to 70 years, the salt marshes along the coast of the National Park will have disappeared due to rising sea levels. Climate change will bring along with it more extreme weather events such as wildfires and floods and the national Park Authority has a role in planning for such emergencies. Climate change will present both opportunities and threats to the tourist economy of the area and bring about changes to the livelihood and well being of those who live, work and visit the forest, all of which is part of the brief of the National Park Authority. The National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund is part financing the New Forest Carbon Footprint Project and Mr. Chatters said it was important for the Authority to support those who are championing sustainable development and looking at the bigger issues and how they relate to the New Forest.

Sarah Fawkes of the New Forest Friends of the Earth group, who are managing the project, described how the project aims to raise awareness about the potential impact of climate change on the New Forest and to work with the community to reduce their CO2 emissions. The project is promoting 8 steps to carbon reduction which are either free, cheap or a good financial investment. Individually, we may not make a big difference but together, as a community the 1,500 households of Brockenhurst can make a big impact.

The project will be holding a wide range of lively, visible and varied events from talks, guided walks, community events and activities for children, young people and adults. The next events, as part of the projects launch will be a Launch Party on Saturday 22nd September from 12:00-4:00pm in Brockenhurst village hall which will be attended by Charlie Dimmock of Ground Force who will be joining in the activities, greeting people and handing out competition prizes. There will be Information stands about the New Forest, climate change and carbon reduction, and a range of children’s activities, also speakers from the Christian Aid ‘Cut the Carbon’ march, videos, competitions and quizzes. The Launch Party will then be followed by a Low Carbon trade Fare on Saturday 29th September from 2:30-5:30pm, again, in Brockenhurst village hall where there will be information stalls on low carbon living, measuring and reducing household carbon emissions. Local and organic produce will be exhibiting their produce, including a free wine tasting. Mukti Mitchell, who is sailing around Britain in a zero-emissions micro yacht will also be giving a talk about low carbon living. The entry to both events is free.

The guests invited to hear the launch of the New Forest Carbon Footprint went away armed with information about climate change, it’s potential impact on the New Forest, the project’s leaflets on how to reduce CO2 emissions and the inspiration to take the lead in the community and forest to challenging climate change.