Low Carbon: Focus on the Low Carbon Trust

By Sarah Griffiths on Aug 4, 09 02:37 PM in Campaigns

Background
Over the last two hundred and fifty years, since industrialization begun, the delicate balance in the earth's systems and atmosphere has been disturbed by pollution. One form of pollution is the release of the basket of greenhouse gases that are associated with the consumption of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. Unfortunately in the twenty first century these forms of energy now underpin most societies.

Modern life with all its convenience like cheap air travel, centralised electrical power, endless gadgets, cheap inefficient housing, cars and mass production, in its current guise, is high carbon and is not sustainable. As we move into the new century, the reality of climate change is becoming clearer.

It is now beyond doubt that, with amongst other things the publication of the Inter-governmental Panel of Climate Change's Fourth Assessment Report, peoples collected activities are responsible for the release of vast amounts of carbon dioxide which are having a very negative impact on the planet that we live on. Moreover there has been a scientific consensus on this fact for over a decade.

The UK government's own position as outlined in the 2003 Energy White Paper has set a target of a 60 per cent cut on 1990 levels of carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 and many commentators state that this is 'too little too late'. If we are to avert runaway climate change by the latter half of the twenty first century, far more drastic action to the tune of around a 90 per cent cut by 2030 is required.

Whatever the target, whatever the timescale, this country; a low carbon country, will have a very different landscape. The Low Carbon Trust exists to promote the ideas and technologies that will enable us to make this transition.

The organisation
The Low Carbon Trust was established to increase awareness about the links between buildings that people live and work in, the carbon dioxide emissions that are produced by this and the resulting climate change.

The two main approaches used are innovative community construction projects, such as Earthship Brighton, and extensive communications work, including training, tours of our projects and education.

The buildings the Trust constructs are designed with training in mind to empower people and communities to realise new skills and gain the confidence to use them. The work includes communicating best practice to the construction industry and government to enable the faster uptake of low carbon technologies and approaches to building.

The organisation also promotes of the use of energy efficiency and water conservation measures in existing houses and raising awareness of the tools that are available to lower carbon emissions from these buildings.

The Low Carbon Trust exists to demonstrate how a low carbon future may look and to spread the word through projects to make this happen.

The organisation's work is made possible by a wide variety of generous people, grant making organisations and companies.

To find out more about the Low Carbon Trust click here

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