Energy use in schools will count towards the total emissions of local authorities under the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), the mandatory trading scheme that will encourage local authorities to reduce emissions. Local authorities will be encouraged within the scheme to provide help and advice to schools on energy efficiency - cutting both their energy bills and their carbon footprints.
Hilary Benn made the announcement as he published new research which shows that 90 per cent of children think their school can take action to help tackle climate change. In all, around 5000 large commercial and public sector organisations will be part of the CRC - including supermarkets, hotel chains, universities, water companies and government departments. The scheme will be revenue neutral, with those who perform best being rewarded financially for their efforts. Other findings from the Climate Change Youth Tracker Survey include:
- six in ten are worried about climate change;
- 78 per cent think climate change is due to human behaviour;
- six in ten thought climate change would effect weather in their region;
- a third felt that the UK was already affected by climate change;
- 42 per cent believe they are taking action and of those respondents, 74 per cent of those recycle/make less waste, 44 per cent walk or cycle and 42 per cent use less energy; and
- 76 per cent felt that their home could use less energy.
