Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council plan to spend £20M to replace waste vehicles reaching the end of their life with lower carbon alternatives.  It is the second stage of the council's plan to make its fleet greener, and will see 280 new vehicles purchased over the next three years.

Whilst ZCD applauds this decision, the real climate benefits come if the trucks are powered by renewable energy.  Sadly in 2023, just 9% of the electricity consumed in BCP came from home grown renewable energy.  Dorset is the best place for solar energy generation in the UK, which is why ZCD recommends much greater roof solar installation to cut energy bills and generate green electricity.

ZCD Co-Director, Mark Chivers told the group “Your campaign has our full support, not only does it tackle one of the biggest contributors to climate change, but it also recognises the importance of making the right behaviours lifelong habits from an early age. The many benefits you have noted will, I suspect, offset the costs. As you also note, many others have already adopted this approach - why shouldn't we! We wish you every success with the campaign.”

Despite support from a number of Dorset's MPs, the Climate and Nature Bill failed to progress at its second reading today (24th January). A vote to "end the debate" passed following objections to the Bill from the Government. These appeared to be accepted by the Liberal Democrats with the Bill's proposer Lib Dem Roz Savage, saying she said she would not push for a vote on the bill itself, having agreed to work with ministers to find a way forward. Green Party leader Carla Denyer said she was "disappointed" by the agreement and urged the government to "give us real commitments".

Earlier, one of only two Tory back benchers to declare their support for the Bill, North Dorset MP, Simon Hoare gave a passionate speach in its favour. This was sadly countered by the Party's shadow minister trotting out the usual misinformation suggesting the Bill could mean "green levies, soaring bills, the highest electricity prices in the world, boiler taxes, job losses, and rejecting our ability to produce fuel domestically, while increasing imports from abroad and generating lower tax revenues as a result". 

Labour MP Clive Lewis however was prepared to put his head above the parapet and criticised the Goverment's plans for airport expansion and argued that growth could not be prioritised over protecting the environment. "You cannot have growth on a dead planet... you can't have a viable economy unless the climate and nature of your country, of your economy is working together in unity."

You can follow how the Zero Hour Campaign intends to take the Bill forward here.

A research team, led by Bournemouth University, added specially developed nanomaterials to plastic samples which allowed them to self-heal after being damaged, whilst still retaining almost all their original strength. 
The findings could open the door to a wide range of sustainable products and a reduction in plastic waste. ZCD believes such research and innovation is vital to tackle plastic pollution.

Dorset Council has embarked on an exciting £1.2million project at Avon Heath Country Park to restore one of the world's rarest wildlife habitats, lowland heathland.
Lowland heathland is recognised as an important and unique ecosystem that supports rare and threatened wildlife. However, over the past 200 years, much of this precious habitat has been lost globally.  ZCD recognises such projects are essential if Dorset is to play its part in helping nature recover and meet Dorset's 30 by 30 target (30% of land managed for recovery by 2030).