Climate change is one of the most pressing and difficult challenges we face today.
Climate change is caused by the greenhouse effect, whereby certain gases (greenhouse gases) trap radiation from the sun. Human activities have upset the natural balance of greenhouse gases which is resulting in rapid change to the global climate. This will affect rainfall, temperature, extremes of weather and sea level.
Darlington’s Community Strategy has recognised that climate change is likely to be one of the key drivers of change within our community this century. In late 2004 a sub-group was set up specifically to develop a response on behalf of the Darlington Partnership.
In 2005 the Darlington Declaration was published, acknowledging the challenge of climate change and identifying that everyone in Darlington is responsible for taking an active role in adapting to and reducing the adverse impacts of climate change. The Declaration committed the Partnership to prepare a plan to combat climate change.
The result is this strategy, which commits the Partnership, Council, local business, major organisations and community groups to actions designed to help us to tackle climate change. This involves both mitigating the contribution of greenhouse gases to climate change, and adapting to climate change, which is already, to some extent inevitable.
Darlington's Climate Change Strategy (pdf)
Tees Valley Climate Change Strategy (pdf)
Calculate your Carbon Footprint
Everyone has a carbon footprint - this is your personal measure of the carbon dioxide you create. Find out how large your carbon footprint is and get handy hints and tips on how you can make a difference to the environment by visiting Calculate your Carbon Footprint on the DirectGov website.