When I did my MPhil in Enviroment and Development at Cambridge  in 1993 I was already acutely aware of the terrible impact of climate change on human lives and on economy. After all, before Cambridge I'd been driving inflatable boats for Greenpeace in the Meditteranean and had witnessed first hand the impact of pollution on marine life.

My MPhil Thesis was called "The Impact of Climate Change on the Insurance Industry" and it investigated how rising sea temperatures were causing more major hurricanes and storms which were hitting America with increasing frequency and intensity, costing billions, leaving homes and communities uninsurable and destroying livelihoods.  Back then it was Hurricane Andrew which cost insurers billions and I think the insurance industry has done more research than any other business community on the impact of climate change and it has become a powerful green lobby. Since then, the terrible catastrophe of New Orleans made us all realise how serious climate change was becoming, and it was this storm which served as the wake up call to George Bush.

What Can We Do Locally?

People are much more aware of the threat of climate change. People want to help, to play a role in reducing the impact for future generations. The Council have a number of strategies to involve the communities. For example tthe Energy Advice Centre is visiting local schools across the borough to teach children how to save energy and the dramatic effects and causes of climate change. The fun and interactive lessons tackle the issues which are high on the government agenda, demonstrating the importance of energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy.

To support in-class learning, the Energy Advice Centre has also produced an 'Energy Saving Passport'. The passport is a four week fun-filled booklet covering energy efficiency, climate change and renewable energy used for homework and further teaching material. The service is completely free to all local schools and provides an essential platform for discussing the issues which are becoming an increasing concern.

Has this service visited your local school, the school where your children or grand-children attend?

Are there any environmental schemes happening in local communities or any initiatives that you know about that I might be able to help.