Our environment
Climate Change is happening. It is a fact that in 2002, the extent of the Arctic ice cover was 14% below the average of the last 24 years. The effects of Climate Change will be irreversible. Action must be taken now, not just by Governments around the world, but by local communities who can show their support in tackling this global threat.
The electricity generating industry is the biggest single source emitter of CO2 worldwide due to a reliance on fossil fuels (such as coal, oil and gas) for energy. Unless something is done about this, Climate Change will not be successfully tackled. Wind farms are the most economical and technologically advanced means to produce electricity that is 100% green and does not impact negatively on the environment.
Worldwide electricity consumption continues to increase. Generating electricity using wind turbines is the fastest growing method of electricity generation. Climate change, coupled with concerns about the increasing global dependence on fossil fuels, and the risks associated with these fuels in terms of availability and price volatility, has created a unique opportunity for a renewable electricity centred approach. The global electricity market is being re-shaped and the need for a renewable source of electricity that is clean, secure and economically viable is an important element of government electricity policies worldwide.
There is no single quick-fix solution to Climate Change, but if communities support local wind energy developments, these projects will cumulatively make a real difference in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preventing the devastating consequences of doing nothing.
The images below show the reduction in Arctic Ice cover over a 24 year period. The image on the left shows the ice cover in January 1979. The image to the right shows the ice cover in January 2003. Source: NASA.
