Climate change, global warming, decarbonisation. Why is it important for your business and for Canterbury?
What is the problem for urban environments?
Towns and cities are both perpetrators and victims of the climate crisis:
- Urban centres consume over two-thirds of the world’s energy and account for more than 70% of global CO2 emissions.
- Cities are heat islands, and therefore vulnerable to extreme weather, due to the amount of asphalt, concrete and stone combined with the loss of biodiversity.
What about Canterbury?
Canterbury is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the majority of the city is part of a designated conservation area with scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens and numerous buildings protected by statutory listing. Canterbury has the beautiful River Stour running through it, and sits in a valley.
We have our work cut out for us – focussing both on reducing carbon emissions and improving biodiversity.
How can businesses prepare for decarbonisation?
We are actively working on ensuring you have the business support you need to reduce your emissions by hosting bespoke climate change training sessions and signposting you to business support and funding. We’re are also celebrating businesses and organisations in our community committed to reducing carbon emissions, addressing climate change and promoting biodiversity, so we can all learn from each other.
Local Support Opportunities:
- Kent and Medway Growth Hub’s Decarbonisation Programme
Includes a Decarbonisation audit, funded by the Community Renewal Fund - Produced in Kent (FoodLoop)
Reducing food waste and redistributing surplus food to those who need it in Kent - Low Carbon Grants (LoCASE)
40% grant contributions (between £1k and £10k) for qualifying projects, for SMEs
Informational Platforms and Campaigns:
- Climate Change Action Plan Template from Place Positive
- SME Climate Hub
- Couch to Carbon Zero
- Count Us In
- How to Lead a Sustainable Business Podcast
- Hospitality Industries – Guardians of Grub for inspiration on food waste
- Creative Industries – Julie’s Bicycle
Canterbury BID’s action on climate change
In addition to hosting business support sessions, Canterbury BID is active locally and nationally on climate change issues.
We sit on Canterbury City Council’s Climate Change Partnership Board, where we are working on a joint action plan to reduce emissions across the Canterbury district, and we are actively involved in the work of the Association of Town and City Management, which our CEO, Lisa Carlson, chairs. The ATCM represents local authorities and Business Improvement Districts across the UK and Ireland, and is leading on urban climate action, with a mission is to get all members on the path to net zero.
Canterbury BID is also on the board of the Canterbury Climate Action Partnership, an independent not-for-profit organisation focused on mobilising action towards a more sustainable future, especially to achieve a zero carbon district by 2030. CCAP includes representatives from other local civic society groups, the city’s three universities, businesses, residents’ associations, faith groups, youth groups, Greenpeace and many others. Activities led by CCAP members include the Repair Cafe, launched in 2020.
In October 2021 we hosted Canterbury’s Green Business Day as part of the city’s first-ever Climate Action Week, organised by the Canterbury Climate Action Partnership (CCAP) in the lead-up to COP26 in association with the Canterbury Festival and other local partners including Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury City Council, Canterbury Society, the Universities of Kent, Christ Church and the Creative Arts, Canterbury College, Westgate Hall and many others.
