ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS UK
The trust initiates and supports work that looks for solutions in the areas of climate change including energy efficiency and renewable energy technology, aviation and transport policy and sustainable agriculture.
In the areas of climate change and sustainable energy, the trust aims to take a broad approach supporting research, practical action, awareness-raising and organisations that aim to influence policymaking in the field. This year the trustees have supported the Institute for Public Policy Research’s work with the International Climate Change Taskforce which aims to address international climate change policy through a network of organisations operating in the UK, Australia and the USA. We hope that the combined effect of the work under these important headings will begin to have an impact at local, national and international level.
Alongside work on climate change, the trust has continued to identify activities or pieces of research which can inform policy making and feed into the public debate on the environmental impacts of aviation and the benefits of sustainable transport, particularly cycling.
The trust supports AEF’s ongoing work with the public and with residents' groups around existing and proposed new airports, primarily through an information service and networking opportunities. It also works closely with the Government to provide advice and information and to continue the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sustainable Aviation which concentrates on air transport and environmental issues at Westminster.
The trust continues to be interested in the area of sustainable agriculture and has supported the sustainable agriculture and land management education programme run by the National Trust on the Buscot and Coleshill Estate in Oxfordshire. The farm gives school children and university students practical experience and understanding of sustainable farming.
Transport
- Cyclists Touring Club (organisational support over a period of nine years)
CTC developed a European study tour for local authority cycling officers and other officials with influence in the cycling agenda. Participants travelled to Strasburg in France, Freiburg in Germany and Bern and Basel in Switzerland to learn from local cycling officers and cyclists. This tour follows on from a long-term piece of work which developed a process for benchmarking best cycling practice in UK Local Authorities.
http://www.ctc.org.uk/ - Aviation Environment Federation (organisational support over a period of five years)
AEF works with communities affected by the negative environmental impacts of aviation to supply them with the support and information they need to make changes locally. AEF also works on environmental policy within the UK Government and at the EU level.
http://www.aef.org.uk/
Renewable Energy
- University of Nottingham (project support over a period of three years)
Towards the lectureship in sustainable technology based at the Institute of Sustainable Energy, School of the Built Environment which ensures that research and achievements made within the Institute are passed throughout the University and are delivered via short courses and partnerships with organisations in the developing world.
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/sbe/general/institute_sustain_tech.php - Centre for Alternative Technology (organisational support over a period of three years)
Support to develop and update CAT’s visitor display circuit of new technologies and towards their educational programme; both of which demonstrate positive solutions to the issues of climate change, decreasing biodiversity and global inequity with a view to inspiring, informing and enabling students and visitors to adopt sustainable activities in their day-to-day lives.
http://www.cat.org.uk/ - The UK Noise Association
Towards the research and dissemination of information regarding the appropriate siting of wind turbines with a view to ensuring that homes neighbouring wind turbines can live peacefully within sight of these features.
http://www.ukna.org.uk/
Sustainable Agriculture
- Forum for the Future (organisational support over a period of eight years)
Work to investigate the economic success for farm businesses of implementing an holistic and integrated approach to land use, focusing on the many uses of land besides intensive agriculture. This will introduce new strategies such as diversifying participants’ on-farm business strategies to include e.g. growing energy crops and industrial non-food crops.
http://www.forumforthefuture.org.uk/ - The National Trust (project support over a period of three years)
An education project at the Buscot and Coleshill Estate on the western border of Oxfordshire to promote the importance of adopting an holistic and sustainable approach to land management, balancing the needs of conservation with food production and income generation; to equip the farmers and estate managers of tomorrow with the skills to adopt environmentally sensitive management techniques; raise awareness and understanding of environmental sustainability among the widest possible audience, including special interest groups, AS level students and further education groups.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/
Climate Change
- Institute for Public Policy Research (organisational support over a period of nine years)
Towards a programme of work to address international climate change issues using various opportunities to influence policy nationally and internationally to deliver deeper binding commitments on greenhouse gas emissions targets.
http://www.ippr.org.uk/
