Taking Action

May 5th election: Questions for candidates

17 April 2022

West Cumbria & North Lakes FoE and Climate Emergency West Cumbria have today (Friday 15th April) sent out 6 questions on the climate crisis and the energy crisis to candidates for the Cumberland election on May 5th. A summary of the responses will be published prior to polling day.

If you meet your candidate you might want to ask them too.

The questions are:

1. Have you been helping the County to achieve its net zero-carbon emissions by 2037 through the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership?

If so please provide details

2. What will be the chief challenges for the new structure in Cumberland in pursuing this path?

3. What do you as a Councillor hope to contribute to achieving the goal of zero carbon in the following main sectors?

waste / energy / land-use / housing / transport

4. What energy mix you think is most suitable for Cumberland?

5. What other steps should Cumberland take to mitigate the energy crisis?

6. Do you know of any climate protecting projects elsewhere, either in the UK or internationally, that Cumberland could draw on to our benefit?

Please provide details.

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Cumbria’s ‘Clean’ Energy Strategy?

The Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership is consulting on its Clean Energy Strategy. It’s important for everyone in Cumbria concerned to protect our planet to take a look at this and respond. It closes on June 22nd 2022 Here’s the introduction to the response from W Cumbria & N Lakes Friends of the Earth. ‘Nuclear energy is not clean energy. Nuclear is the third highest carbon emitter after coal-fired and natural gas electricity generators. Life cycle emissions are 66 grams of carbon dioxide for every kilowatt-hour compared with 9 grams per kilowatt-hour for wind and 32 grams per kilowatt-hour for solar. “Valuing the greenhouse gas emissions from nuclear power”: A critical survey: Benjamin K. Sovacool Energy Policy 36 (2008) 2940– 2953 Summarised at https://journalistsresource.org/environment/nuclear-power-greenhouse-gases/ Furthermore, nuclear waste is the longest lasting waste we have created on this planet, and there is still no tested and operational GDF in the world. The NDA often describes its activities at Sellafield as ‘clean-up’: why is clean-up needed when they are, according to this strategy, clean in the first place? The idea that a strategy embracing nuclear is a secure investment is contradicted by all the facts familiar with nuclear projects: failures of investment; high risk due to out-of-control accidents such as Chernobyl & Fukushima; enormous cost and time overruns. There is nothing in this strategy to indicate how these existing realities will be dealt with other than vague words of support by government.’ Here is the consultation:https://wh1.snapsurveys.com/s.asp?k=165391843491 And here is the strategy: https://www.thecumbrialep.co.uk/resources/uploads/files/220530_CumbriaCoast_FINAL.pdf
Magnox Reprocessing to End July 2022

Operations to end at Sellafield’s Magnox Reprocessing Plant. Sellafield’s Magnox plant will stop reprocessing in July 2022 and enter a new era of clean-up and decommissioning. It will mark the end of an operational journey that began in 1964. The plant has played a crucial role in UK energy generation. It received and reprocessed nearly 55,000 tonnes of spent (or used) nuclear fuel from power stations across the country, and Italy and Japan. That allowed the UK’s 11 Magnox power stations to keep low carbon electricity flowing to homes and businesses in England, Scotland, and Wales. The final Magnox station closed in 2015. Spent fuel from the UK’s current fleet of AGR nuclear power stations will continue to be sent for storage at Sellafield. NDA 17th May 2022
Cumbria Green Jobs and Young People

Cumbria has a key role to play in tackling the climate and nature emergencies. But does the region have the skilled workforce to deliver the progress needed in the next decade? There is enormous potential for new jobs in energy efficiency, low-carbon heating, solar power, and offshore wind across the county as we transition to a low carbon economy. Investing in these sectors could bring huge social and economic benefits to both the local community and the climate. Based on analysis of a youth survey conducted between August – October 2021, we have produced a new report reflecting on the aspirations of young people in Cumbria and their interest in green job opportunities. For me and many young people who call Cumbria home there are many things to love about the place we come from – the landscape, the community, the culture. For all of these reasons, I would like to remain in Cumbria for as long as I can. But jobs, especially sustainable jobs, are currently in short supply. I will most likely have to leave Cumbria to access the job I want to do; yet many young people would choose to stay here, working with our communities or our land, if the jobs were available. The provision of green jobs in Cumbria is a necessity not only in order to provide young people with the secure and stable careers they want, but to provide the jobs we need in order to transition to a sustainable, green economy. Throughout my time in education, I was offered little information about the potential for green careers in the area. Young people need to be given chances to learn about the opportunities and apprenticeships available to them. The survey tells us that there is a clear appetite amongst young people to gain more understanding of green jobs opportunities in areas such as renewable energy, and agriculture, forestry and land management. Also, young people have high aspirations for future earnings, raising the question of whether these aspirations can be met locally. The climate crisis, and the scope of the action we need in order to tackle it, can often feel overwhelming. However, we can start to make a difference by taking local steps such as the ones recommended at the end of this report and providing green jobs and education opportunities to young people across Cumbria. Isabella Bridgman, youth climate activist Access report here You can view videos of what green jobs and how they benefit our communities here
Russian Coal

Despite the claims made by its supporters, opening the proposed Cumbrian mine would not end our dependency on foreign coal. West Cumbria Mining make it clear that their product would replace coal from the US, not from Russia. Steelmakers use a blend of different coals, the majority of which would still need to be imported, even if the coal mine was opened. In addition to this, one of the only two potential UK customers for Cumbrian coal – British Steel in Scunthorpe – has said that they may not be able to use it because of its high sulphur content. The best way to reduce the UK steel industry’s dependence on imported coal would be for it to turn to green steel, made without the use of coal. That’s already happening in the rest of Europe and is what the UK steel industry needs to be competitive in the 21st century.
May 5th election: Questions for candidates

West Cumbria & North Lakes FoE and Climate Emergency West Cumbria have today (Friday 15th April) sent out 6 questions on the climate crisis and the energy crisis to candidates for the Cumberland election on May 5th. A summary of the responses will be published prior to polling day. If you meet your candidate you might want to ask them too. The questions are: 1. Have you been helping the County to achieve its net zero-carbon emissions by 2037 through the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership? If so please provide details 2. What will be the chief challenges for the new structure in Cumberland in pursuing this path? 3. What do you as a Councillor hope to contribute to achieving the goal of zero carbon in the following main sectors? waste / energy / land-use / housing / transport 4. What energy mix you think is most suitable for Cumberland? 5. What other steps should Cumberland take to mitigate the energy crisis? 6. Do you know of any climate protecting projects elsewhere, either in the UK or internationally, that Cumberland could draw on to our benefit? Please provide details.

There is huge potential to create ‘green’ jobs in Cumbria – employment opportunities that are good for both people and the environment. New research carried out for CAfS shows that the county could benefit from 9,000 new jobs in industries ranging from renewable energy and construction to transport. The findings are shared in their report The Potential for Green Jobs in Cumbria. Published on Friday 12 March 2021, the report will contribute to the crucial opportunity we have to plan for an economic recovery of Cumbria that accelerates the transition to a cleaner, net-zero emissions local economy after the devastating impacts of Covid-19. The report, supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, shows that: there are more than 1300 opportunities for green apprenticeship creation over 3 years in Cumbria, spread across the boroughs: Allerdale – 260; Copeland – 160; Barrow – 300; Carlisle – 350; Eden – 80; South Lakes - 160.

Cumbria is one place that could really benefit from a green recovery plan. A better route to economic prosperity after Covid-19 is urgently needed, one that is anchored in the industries of the future, rather than those of the past. A green recovery plan could be built around four key pillars: Cumbria’s rich potential for green economic development; Economic renewal through local net zero plans; Community participation in plans; Investment to make it happen.

Research by Friends of the Earth has revealed that creating 250,000 green apprenticeships leading to jobs including in renewable energy, woodland creation, and peatland restoration, would help address the crises in youth unemployment (that could cost today's unemployed young people £39bn in future earnings), and climate breakdown. Released in March 2021 the report “An emergency plan on green jobs for young people – why and how?” (by Transition Economics for Friends of the Earth) lays bare the scarring economic impact of youth unemployment from Covid-19 on individuals, local authorities, and the overall country. But the research also shows the huge potential for fighting the climate crisis with green jobs country-wide if apprenticeships are given proper government support.

Cumbria Renewable Energy and Capacity Deployment Study A report by sustainable economic and social development consultants, SQW for Cumbria County Council published in August 2011 giving a detailed assessment of the renewable resources available.

The Scope for Renewable Energy in Cumbria is a report published by the precursor body to Britain’s Energy Coast - Cumbria Vision in 2009. This envisioned the creation of almost 8,000 by 2050 from developing renewable energy.

The West Cumbria Economic Blueprint is the plan put forward in June 2012 by Britain’s Energy Coast, a public/private partnership made up of local authorities and nuclear groups in the area.

A Sustainable Energy Agency for Cumbria: Business Plan and Annexes and Supporting Information - commissioned by Cumbria Vision and the North West Development Agency in 2009. A detailed plan for an Energy Agency to promote low-carbon distributed energy and energy efficiency. Cumbria has a huge renewable potential, and a number of leading renewable energy companies including Gilkes and Energy4All. Despite this, it is not as effective as other areas in accessing funding and support for sustainable energy. Unfortunately the idea of the Agency was never taken forward.