Green Travel Event Webcast to Council Computers.
In order to reduce staff travel, the Council held a Green Travel event and web cast it live to Council computers on March 11th also archiving it for viewing at a later date.
In addition to trialling web casting to staff, the purpose of the event was to provide training on video and telephone conferencing, give tips on reducing emissions when driving and give an update on efforts to reduce Council business travel.
Over 500 staff have viewed the event to date.
Green Ambassador Launch November 2008
At the launch event of the Green Ambassadors initiative the campaign's new slogan “Green Aware? Show you Care!” was unveiled and Ambassadors had the opportunity to meet up to learn more about schemes to cut the amount of emissions produced by The Council and to take part in workshops on topics including how to calculate emissions from journeys and the use of video and tele-conferencing.
Councillors and Senior Management have given their full backing to the campaign. Councillor Ian Ross said: “As a Council we recognise that we have an important role to play not only as an employer but also as a service provider, a community leader and a signatory of the declaration. The Green Ambassador initiative is a way of ensuring our staff are made aware of all the ways they can help to reduce the amount of carbon emissions we produce through travel, energy and waste. Over 60 Green Ambassadors have volunteered to take part in the scheme and their role will be to promote “green” initiatives and raise awareness amongst their colleagues and in the wider community.
Presentations from the Green Ambassador Launch event and subsequent events are available to download. Just click on the links to the right of the page.
Climate Change and Sustainable Thinking January 2009
Climate change is not, at its core, an energy, technology, or policy problem. It is the consequence of the greatest failure of thought in human history. Only after people understand and alter their thinking, which means to think sustainably, will the personal and organisational behaviour, clean energy technologies, and policies required to resolve climate change and adopt a path towards sustainability become evident.
This workshop aimed to:
- Show how our current thinking, assumptions and beliefs have led to climate change and other crises.
- Show how to alter the way individuals, teams and organisations think and act in order to create climate positive sustainable outcomes.
- Show how to realise personal and organisational improvements and prosperity through sustainable thinking.
- Show how different personality types respond differently to the climate change message and how to provide them with options that are more likely to be adopted and are also meaningful.
Attendees were introduced to the 5-Dstage-based approach to change for the climate and sustainability. This is a powerful method for motivating individuals and groups to move from disinterest to action.
Escape the "Carbon Handcuffs" March 2009
This event was open to all Highland Council staff and Members who were interested in finding out more about significant new measures the Council is introducing to reduce our carbon emissions and our environmental impact.
The agenda for the day focused on the practical with interactive sessions, including a look at the new travel booking system for employees which is under development*, an update on the Green Ambassador scheme, a Q and A panel session, our Carbon Management Plans for the future and presentations on the Corporate Improvement Programme.
Everyone attending was entered into a prizedraw for a top prize of a wind up Eco – media player. The winner Stephen Callen is pictured above being presented with his prize by the Sustainable Development Officer, Ailsa Villegas.
New and existing Green Ambassadors were able to learn about updated resources and features to assist in awareness raising and signposting and to share good practice.