Cotswold Chatterblog

A new post dedicated to tackling climate change has been created at Cotswold District Council this month with to the appointment of Climate Change and Carbon Management Officer Kirsty Merritt.

Kirsty, who has a year-long contract with the Council, started work on June 23rd as the Council’s new Climate Change and Carbon Management Officer.  She will be based at the Council’s Trinity Road offices and will work with staff and partner organisations to help reduce Council emissions, tackle climate change and promote measures to mitigate and adapt to its predicted effects.

One of Kirsty’s first jobs in her new role will be to contribute to the formal launch of Local Authority Carbon Management Programme on July 18th, a tri-authority project with Stroud District Council and the Forest of Dean District Council to reduce the Council’s carbon footprint.

Kirsty will be involved in regular meetings with The Carbon Trust, which gives advice and support on how to cut carbon output, and she will create a plan to reduce the Council’s electricity usage and vehicle emissions.

The 22-year-old will examine the Council’s in-house energy use and provide guidance on complex energy saving projects and simple measures, such as switching off lights, computers and kettles when not in use.  She will also work with CDC’s Property Services and Finance departments, and will report her findings to Members and Directors on a regular basis.

Kirsty, who is originally from the Wiltshire town of Highworth and graduated from Coventry University with a First Class Honours Degree in Emergency and Disaster Management, said:
“The issue of climate change today is a huge problem, so we must all take action to tackle it.”
“We will all have to do our bit to help cut emissions, and hopefully I will be able to get the message across to staff and the public and keep us on track with our cleaner and greener Council objectives.”

A dedicated Carbon Management Board and Carbon Management Team have been set up by Cotswold District Council this summer, and the Council also signed up to the Nottingham Declaration in January, a nationwide commitment to tackle climate change and global warming.

Source: Cotswold District Council

Tags: climate | cotswolds

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