Over 370 sign ups have already been received to the Fair Shares, Fair Choice (FSFC) movement, initiated by Sustainability South West. Those backing the principle of globally safe and fair carbon shares for everyone include famous residents of the region like Tim Smit of the Eden Project and the government’s sustainability guru Jonathon Porritt (see our celebrities & VIPs page for more information).

Supporters already include public agencies including county councils, schools, local and big businesses, universities, national parks, AONBs and wildlife trusts, charities, community groups, and scores of local residents (go to FSFC supporters for a full list)! 

The project's website has also generated international interest, “This shows that people want to work together worldwide to make their individual choices count to reduce dangerous climate change,” explains Leslie Watson, Sustainability South West’s Director, “People also want some personal choice about how they help – a personal carbon share gives everyone that choice, and on the Fair Shares, Fair Choice website you are offered a choice of virtual coaches - characters who give advice and tips about living within a fair carbon budget at home, work and play.”

“There are many positives to living within a fair carbon share,” says the Charity’s Chair Julian Dennis, Head of compliance and sustainability at Wessex Water, "saving money on energy bills, improving health from walking and cycling more, enjoying more local food & drink which also supports our local economies, cutting the need to drive by using video conferencing for meetings, and gaining new business from environmental technologies.”

Sustainability South West supported World Environment Day with representatives joining in a specially organised event at Mount Folly Square in Bodmin, Cornwall. Members of the public were offered  exclusive Fair Shares, Fair Choice carbon cards showing what a climate safe and fair carbon share is for everyone who lives in the South West region. They also got help calculating their carbon footprints and choosing carbon-busting challenges to reduce them!

Fair Shares, Fair Choice hopes that as support grows, the South West region can claim to be leading the way in the battle to halt global warming. 

The fair carbon shares calculated by SSW are based on a global CO2 reduction model called ‘Contraction & Convergence’ (C&C). Taking into account the world’s CO2 ‘limits’, C&C has calculated safe carbon shares for all nations based on population size and current development needs (go to the science for more about C&C).