Schools to join carbon trading scheme

Environment Minister Hilary Benn has announced that the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) will include state schools from 2010.

It is mandatory for all local authorities to take part in the CRC, a revenue neutral scheme that gives financial rewards to councils with the best environmental performance, and penalises the worst performers.

All large organisations within a council’s jurisdiction will be part of the scheme, including hotel chains, supermarkets, universities, water companies, and government departments.

Hilary Benn said the decision to include schools in the scheme was made after research discovered that 9 out of 10 children think that their school should take action to tackle global warming.

Schools will not be required to trade in carbon credits, but will simply have to supply annual energy use figures to their local authority.

Local councils will be responsible for providing advice and support to scools, helping them to reduce energy bills and carbon footprint.

Mr. Benn said: “Bringing schools into the carbon footprint of local authorities taking part in this scheme will encourage greater energy efficiency, with children seeing the results in their own school. Young people stand to gain most tomorrow from the action we take today. That’s why schools should be included in the shift to a low carbon economy.”

As well as including schools in the scheme, the government wants all new school buildings to be carbon neutral by 2016.