The City’s Journey To Creating The UK’s Environment Capital

Results from a city-wide green survey show that 85 per cent of residents agree that taking action to improve the local environment is important for the city

Over 1,600 people completed the environment survey last October as part of work to support Peterborough’s aspiration to become the UK’s Environment Capital.

The survey highlighted how residents are considering what impact they make on the environment more than ever. Results showed that 90 per cent of those surveyed now recycle all suitable waste when possible, which has increased from just over 80 per cent in 2009.

Further elements of the survey show how residents are contributing to Peterborough becoming the UK’s Environment Capital:

• 67 per cent of residents have fully insulated their homes
• 70 per cent use energy efficient appliances
• Over 70 per cent of people have stopped or reduced the use of plastic carrier bags
• Almost 55 per cent now use water saving devices in their homes – up from under 20 per cent in 2010

Full details for the survey results can be found at www.peterborough.gov.uk/environmentcapital

Councillor Nigel North, Cabinet Advisor to the Leader on Environment Capital, said:

The results of this survey mean we can pull together a focussed action plan, strategy and targets, helping us to engage residents and businesses, building our environmental aspirations for the city. We know, and 82 per cent of residents agreed, that the city still has work to do in order to claim the title of the UK’s Environment Capital. Creating the UK’s Environment Capital is not an accolade but a challenge we’ve set ourselves to make Peterborough cleaner and greener. On this journey, Peterborough aims to place environmental issues at the heart of what it does and become an aspiring role model

Plans include developing an Environment Capital Action Plan to drive performance, creating a dedicated Facebook page and Twitter account as well as an eNewsletter which highlights advice and best practice being carried out throughout the city, and to raise awareness and engage with other cities, businesses and residents in living and working more sustainably.

An iPad and Peterborough United tickets, donated by the football club and Serco, were offered as a prize to one lucky resident who completed the survey. The winner, Pippa Wilson, was presented with her prize by Councillor North.

Environment Capital has already achieved the following successes:

• 45 per cent of all waste is recycled, reused or composted
• 350+ environmental businesses in the city – one of the biggest eco-clusters in Europe
• Set up an energy company – Blue Sky Peterborough
• Successful first Environment Capital Conference
• Peterborough City Council working towards a 35 per cent reduction in Co2 emissions
• Over 90 per cent of schools are now Eco-Schools
• National and international awards
• Largest development of zero carbon homes in the UK
• Over 30,000 trees planted for Forest for Peterborough
• Installation of solar PV panels on buildings across the city including on the old Freemans building, Regional Pool, Peterborough Town Hall and currently 14 schools