Peterborough as an Environment Capital

On 1 June 2007 Sir Jonathon Porritt CBE gave a keynote speech entitled ‘Peterborough as an Environment Capital’ to 160+ Greater Peterborough Partnership delegates at Peterborough Town Hall.

Peterborough City Council workers, Parish Councillors, Local Councillors, businesse leaders, local environmental organisations, Community Associations, planners, housing associations, local voluntary sector and journalists listened to his speech challenging and provoking Peterborough to realise it’s aspiration to be Environment Capital of England.

Jonathon Porritt highlighted areas in which Peterborough is doing very well environmentally, but laid down the following challenges:

· All 25, 000 new homes to be developed by 2025 should comply to zero carbon standards

· If Peterborough is to be truly sustainable, all aspects of our lives (education, health, economy, social issues, etc) need to connect with the environment.

· We should have a Peterborough public transport network that means no one has to use a car unless they want to

· Sustainable development should be taught across the curriculum (responsibility in all subjects)

· We need to change societies accepted values on the Environment and wider issues (‘Consumer society’)

It is widely accepted that unless we adhere to this advice we will not be environment capital of England. Working is now being undertaken by the Environment Capital Steering Group to outline initiatives to engage with the above challenges.

The GPP Forum gave all delegates present the opportunity to listen to a leading sustainable development expert on how Peterborough can become Environment Capital. Sir Jonathon Porritt CBE highlighted areas in which Peterborough needs to improve to become Environment Capital of England. The rest of the forum gave those present the chance to ask probing environmental questions to those trying to make Peterborough the Environment Capital of England.

Young Peoples engagement at the GPP Forum 2007

Particularly noticeable were Youth Consultation Peterborough who engaged in the Question and Answer sessions and led their own Youth and Young People workshop. The workshop was a testament to the enthusiasm and dynamism of Peterborough’s young people. Richard Astle (Director, GPP) commented, “I found the Young Persons workshop format a positive and refreshing approach to group discussion. The conclusion (BIG IDEA) reached was a much focused effort. I am confident this will help the Environment Capital Steering Group to develop its recommendation on how we move forward.”

David House - Richard Astle - Rachel Barnard - Jibran Khan