The Trust’s “Collingham Sustainable Community” initiative is aimed at helping local people to understand what they can do to help reverse climate change and, in the process, help them to avoid unaffordable energy bills.  It does this mainly by posting information, tips and advice on the initiative’s Facebook page here.

The Trust is also seeking to work with a University to develop a methodology and associated metrics for assessing current status of defined communities, in relation to their sustainability (see definition below).  This is with the local Collingham interest in mind, but with broader recognition and applicability.

More information on this will be posted on Facebook and this website as progress is made.  Meanwhile, for those new to environmental vocabulary, a handy guide to the words used and what they mean is provided below.

THE WORDS THEY USE

AND WHAT THEY MEAN

Sustainable development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs

Sustainable communities

A sustainable community is when the needs of people to be safe, healthy and happy can be met, without damaging the environment or compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Sustainability priorities

Known as “the 3 pillars of sustainability”, they are 1: the planet (ie to reverse climate change); 2: people (ie whilst doing so meeting their needs); and 3: production (ie adjusting our ways of doing things so that they become sustainable)

Sustainable development benefits

Sustainable development will lead to a better and sustainable economy where there is little waste and pollution.  It will also lead to fewer emissions, more jobs and a better distribution of wealth.

Reasons to justify going nothing

Known as “the discourse of delay”, they include 1:  a strategy of surrender (there is nothing useful we can do); 2:  redirecting responsibility (its up to someone else to act); 3: advocating ineffective solutions (which waste money and delay implementation of effective actions); and 4: emphasising the downside whenever effective measures are proposed.

Carbon footprint

Is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide, methane& nitrous oxide) that are generated by our actions.  For simplicity, usually converted and expressed as a CO2 equivalent.  They fall into 3 categories, ie Scope-1, Scope-2 & Scope-3.

Scope-1 emissions

These are emissions over which we as individuals or as businesses have direct control , and include emissions when travelling in personal or business vehicles, and the gas, electricity and water being used.

Scope-2 emissions

These are emissions over which we individually or as businesses have indirect control, and comprise the emissions created by the energy provider you use.

Scope-3 emissions

These are emissions over which we as individuals or as businesses have indirect control , and include how products are shipped or distributed, what supplies are necessary to buy to run a business and the emission those suppliers create, and business travel.

Net zero carbon

Refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. We reach net zero when the amount we add is no more than the amount taken away.

Greenwashing

Is a term usually applied to businesses that are either fabricating or over-stating their green credentials to encourage sales or falsely justify higher prices.  For a business to claim it is net zero carbon, for example, it must show independent verification across all 3 scopes of its carbon footprint, rather than just scope-1.

For a detailed look at these various aspects of sustainability see the initiative’s evaluation tool by selecting the link below: