14:00 07/09/05 Re: [ssf] Fw: [g8-sheffield] Climate Change to be discussed in Full

[Adam Moran]

Hi Jillian, Hi List

Alice Collins forwarded:

>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: Jillian Creasy 
>> To: graham wroe ; steve foe ; gp-sheff at yahoogroups.com ; g8 
>> Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 3:22 PM

Thanks Alice.

Jillian Creasy wrote:

>> Full Council (meeting in Town Hall) will receive presentations by:
>> 
>> George Munson, Regional Climate Change Co-ordinator at the Yorkshire and Humber Govt Office on the implications of Climate Change 
>> &
>> Andy Nolan, Head of Environmental Strategy on the Council's strategy for action.
>> 
>> There will then be an opportunity of Cllrs to ask questions.
>> There is a slot for "public questions and communications" immediately before this (at 2pm), so although the public can't ask questions during the "debate" anything asked from the gallery would be hard to ignore in the session which followed. 
>> 
>> So ... I'm putting out an appeal for 
>> 1. People to attend Full Council on that day. Just turn up at about 1.50pm and tell the ushers you want to ask a question from the gallery - you will be shown upstairs and called to speak by the Mayor after any petitioners have spoken (which can take a while!)
>> 2. AND/OR feed any questions to me and I will try to put them - I only get one slot for questions and possibly a second one for comments (actually comes to much the same thing in politics, I've noticed!). It would be very helpful for have your ideas. 

I read that Manchester are offering this position : Green City Programme 
Director [1]. This is the job description:

Description:

We are looking for a committed, enthusiastic and proactive individual to 
lead our new campaign to establish Manchester as Britain's greenest city.

   "This challenging role is to develop, direct and monitor the delivery
   of a series of multi-agency strategies and action plans to bring about
   the greening of Manchester; to establish and head a highly motivated
   Council team to promote a city-wide understanding of and participation
   in green issues; and to raise awareness of the campaign at local,
   regional, national and international levels."

Do Sheffield have a similar position ?

>> Should I focus on transport, industry, energy saving in housing, localising the economy, the incinerator, the airport(s)? So much room for improvement I'm in danger of being overwhelmed!

Not sure where to start, so following your order:

Transport
=========

Air Quality
-----------

Have the M1 Corridor Clean Air Partnership [2] been able to meet their 
objectives ?

   "The M1 corridor between Rotherham and Sheffield is predicted to
   exceed the UK Government's annual objective for nitrogen dioxide. This
   pollutant is produced largely by road traffic, and to a lesser extent
   industry and other domestic fossil fuel burning. The Government
   requires all local authorities to produce an Action Plan for reducing
   air pollution levels in order to meet the set objectives (view The Air
   Quality Objectives). On their own, the local authorities of Rotherham
   and Sheffield cannot achieve clean air that meets the Governments
   targets. Joint working from all stakeholders in the area is required.
   To this end the M1CCAP is made up of representatives from a varied
   background"

When I last read about this, I took it that the main objective could be 
reached by reducing the speed limit on the M1 in our area to 50 m.p.h. I 
think this should be a priority issue in Sheffield as I suspect that 
this pollution is the root cause of breathing difficulties, such as 
asthma. I hear 1 in 3 kids in Sheffield are now presenting asthma; is 
this correct ?

This is a link to some research that was done in Oxford:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1292524,00.html
"Taking the Oxford air adds up to a 60-a-day habit".

Apparently in Sheffield we are smoking the equivalent of 27 fags / day; 
well that's Tinsley ... I guess it's a lot less in Dore and Totley.

Alternative fuel sources
------------------------

   "Leeds city council has cut greenhouse gas emissions on its vehicle
    fleet by 5% by using vegetable oil to fuel its vehicles.

    Made from any new or used vegetable oil, biodiesel can be used
    directly in any diesel engine without modification. Some 80% of the
    council's 1,400 vehicles run on diesel, using 4m litres a year." [3]

Does Sheffield have any initiatives of this sort ?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'll give some thought to the other concerns now.

>> I need your ideas and your support. I want to be as well informed as possible and to represent you, the green-thinking, no-blood-for-oil community. I also want to show SCC, especially Labour, that the people of Sheffield regard climate change as a really important issue and that we are GLAD they have timetabled this session.
>> 
>> Notes
>> 1. Y&H Region produced a Climate Change Action Plan in Feb/March of this year ... you could find it on the web: the thing the Green Party picked out of it was the recommendation to appoint a cabinet level "champion" for climate change. This hasn't quite happened - though they did create a cabinet member for "environment and transport" (Terry Fox).
>> 2. Andy Nolan has moved from a similar role at Sheffield Uni - only taken up post a few months ago.
>> 
>> Thanks!
>> 
>> Cllr Jillian Creasy, Central ward, Sheffield Green Party

Cheers

--
Adam

[1] 
http://www.a1.manchester.gov.uk/doors.nsf/VacanciesWeb/0302E0FE962ED4C68025706100406370?OpenDocument

[2] http://www.m1airaction.com/

[3] Cleaning up their act : 
http://society.guardian.co.uk/bestpractice/story/0,14091,1559102,00.html