Campaign will focus on climate (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Campaign will focus on climate

3:39pm Friday 29th June 2007 in Green Watch By Kate Martin

A PUBLICITY campaign to persuade residents to help tackle climate change is set to be launched by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

The drive is planned as part of the council's climate change strategy, which is currently being drawn up.

Members of the council's environment overview committee were to be asked yesterday to approve the initial approach for the strategy, which is expected to be produced by November.

Work so far on tackling climate change includes the council signing the Nottingham Declaration, appointing officers and a Cabinet member as climate change champions, and setting up a special panel to discuss the issues.

The council has also held a consultation with officers from different departments to identify actions that should be part of the council's climate change strategy.

One major focus is expected to be a publicity push to raise awareness among borough residents about climate change, how it affects them and how they can make a difference.

A report to the committee by Emma Broom, head of street care, and Glyn Williams, head of policy and partnerships, says the council will also publicise what it is doing to reduce the impact of global warming, such as reducing energy and water consumption in its buildings.

A final draft of the strategy will be presented to the environment overview committee in November and it could be approved by the Cabinet as early as December.