ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT STUDY

Findhorn Ecovillage scores record low ecological footprint

A study just issued has found that the Findhorn Foundation community in Moray, Scotland has recorded the lowest-ever ecological footprint for any community in the industrialised world. Ecological footprinting is a tool to measure the consumption of resources and the creation of wastes, and is increasingly relevant to the world of today where energy efficiency and sustainability are critical in our efforts to combat climate change.

The community‚s footprint is a fraction over half the national average, meaning that the average resident in the community consumes just one half of the resources and generates one half of the waste of the average citizen of the UK.
The study was undertaken by GEN-Europe (the Global Ecovillage Network) in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Research Centre (SDRC) in Forres. Technical support was provided by the internationally-recognised footprinting consultants, the Stockholm Environment Institute based at the University of York.

Download the Footprint Report

11 November 2006
CIFAL Findhorn Launch

CIFAL Findhorn in partnership with Moray College UHI presents
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS, November 11 - 13, 2006

Climate change and declining oil production are two of the main threats we must now boldly and creatively face. In all debates on future energy policy, the question is what are the challenges of change and how will we move from one means of generating energy to another?

The Sustainable Energy Solutions event, today marked the launch of CIFAL Findhorn, the first UN Training Centre in Northern Europe. CIFAL Findhorn is part of a global network of 12 Unitar international training centres. Local authorities and partners attended the launch at the Universal Hall of the Findhorn Foundation in a spirit of celebration and excitement.

More information

September 2006

CIFAL Findhorn formally designated as UNITAR Associated Training Centre last Friday in Geneva

CIFAL Findhorn formally designated as UNITAR Associated Training Centre

Representatives of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, The Moray Council, Findhorn Foundation, the UK Mission to the United Nations have signed on Friday, September 22, an agreement for the opening of CIFAL Findhorn, a UNITAR Associated Training Centre in Scotland.

The centre, to be established at the Findhorn Foundation, Moray, is from last Friday formally designated as part of the CIFAL network (French acronym for International Training Centres for Local Actors). This will bring regular delegations to Scotland to learn about developments in environmental planning and sustainable development. Regular seminars and training will be hosted at the Findhorn ecovillage and Moray College from November onwards. These are aimed for local government officials and diplomats from around the world. The centre will specialise in environmental policy and best practice in sustainability.

Convener of The Moray Council, Councillor Eddie Coutts, said: "No one in this field can work in isolation today, and the sooner a network of energy-aware bodies starts to work together the better. For Moray, this is a wonderful opportunity to put ourselves on the international map as never before, and I am proud that Moray Council has been able to support the CIFAL Findhorn project from the outset."

Representing the Local Authority in Geneva for the signing director of environmental services, Bob Stewart said:  "I am delighted that Moray has been recognised by UNITAR as an excellent location for their first training centre in the UK. The Moray area has an excellent reputation for imaginative housing, crystallised by the building and projects undertaken at the Findhorn Foundation, making Moray an ideal location to train others in this important sustainable culture."

The CIFAL Findhorn Project Director May East is also one of the signatories to the agreement with UNITAR. She said: „The Findhorn Foundation project team has been working for eight years to reach this stage. It is expected that we will offer five training sessions in the first year of activities, the first of which is "Sustainable Energy Solutions" in November. This will be done in partnership with the Moray College UHI Millennium Institute. We are overjoyed about all these developments."

Scottish Minister for Rural Affairs, Ross Finnie, welcomed the agreement. "I recently met with a delegation of representatives from Findhorn to discuss the project and was very encouraged and interested to hear about the progress that has been made.  Indeed, The Scottish Executive is supporting the project through financial and other assistance delivered via the local enterprise company Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Moray.  The Scottish Executive very much welcomes the establishment of the CIFAL centre at Findhorn and I wish to offer my congratulations to all those involved in the project for their efforts to date and for having reached this important landmark in the process."

UNITED NATIONS TRAINING CENTRE  for MORAY

It was clear that something exciting was hatching at Horizon Scotland, Moray's business incubator, last Monday when Scottish MPs, representatives of Moray Council, the Highland Council, Highlands  and Islands  Enterprise, Oxford Brooks and Dundee Universities and local businesses gathered to learn more about what Angus Robertson, MP for Moray, described as „an audacious and innovative proposal‰ to put Moray on the map by making the Findhorn Ecovillage a UNITAR  (United Nations Institute of Training and Research) training center for training local authorities in sustainable development.

Donald Lunan, Planning and Development Manager of Moray Council saw the initiative as 'an exciting venture and even more exciting for it to be here in the north of Scotland' - a chance to boost the local economy and to show off to the world the beauty and amenities of the Moray area. There was unanimous support in the meeting for this project and enthusiasm ran high for an initiative bound to bring more visitors to Moray and to provide a focal point for all those already involved in sustainable development in the area.

The Findhorn Ecovillage was awarded the UN-Habitat Best Practice Designation in 1998 and it continues to demonstrate sustainable methods of building, heating, waste water treatment, gardening, energy supply and community living. The Findhorn Foundation and community, based at The Park, Findhorn, is a founding member of the Global Ecovillage Network and was approved as an NGO for formal association with the UN Department of Public Information in 1997.

As Brian Burns of Brian Burns Associates said, "The Findhorn Ecovillage offers real life case study experience," a crucial factor for educators such as Professor Kessler from Oxford Brooks University whose students visit the Findhorn Foundation for "a crash course in sustainability". While there are many bodies providing training in sustainable physical planning, the Findhorn Ecovillage also offers education in the social and community aspects of sustainability gleaned from 44 years as a learning community.

Brian Burns Associates conducted an economic impact study published in 2003 showing the Findhorn Foundation and associate organisations and businesses as a very significant economic driver in the region, supporting approximately 300 jobs in the Findhorn/Forres area and providing 3 million pounds in household income.

May East, coordinator of Ecovillage Training Programmes at the Findhorn Foundation, explained that UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research), had created centres from which to train local authorities to ensure the implementation of the main agendas of the United Nations including the Millennium Development Goals. These centres are called CIFAL centres, 'International Training Centre for Local Authorities'and Bernard Hoarau, Director of CIFAL, who had flown in from Geneva, told how CIFAL Findhorn looks set to become the twelfth centre worldwide.

There are 32 local authorities in Scotland each with at least one identified sustainability officer and over 400 local authorities in the UK. Each one is in the process of developing sustainability policies and programmes. The Scottish Executive have published a comprehensive Sustainable Development Strategy. This notes that "We are facing major and unprecedented challenges to moderate our previously unsustainable patterns of development...Scotland will not be able to meet these challenges unless people - whatever their age, status, occupation and lifestyle - have the necessary knowledge, awareness, understanding and skills to play their part".

James Gibbs, Chief Executive of HIE Moray, commented that Moray had much to offer a United Nations training facility in sustainable development. This included experience in renewable energy demonstrated by the Findhorn Wind Park and the presence in Horizon Scotland (HIE Moray's business and technology incubator in Forres)  of UHI's associate research centre in sustainable development. The UNITAR  CIFAL  network of training centres provides  training to local government delegates from all around the world. Moray's Community Planning Partnership, could  contribute to a new CIFAL centre in Moray by providing  valuable insights into partnership working, both between public agencies and with the private sector. 
 
Further support came from Daniel Wahl of Dundee University, the first university to endorse the CIFAL Findhorn Project. Wahl cited Sir Patrick Geddies, father of town planning and a Scot, who in 1915 coined the phrase, think global, act local pointing out that we are at a crucial point in human development. If we don't'take changes locally, regionally and globally now, future generations will want to know why not.

This project is not only a  potential collaborative venture between  The Findhorn Foundation, The United Nations, The Moray Council, the local enterprise company -  HIE Moray,  and other partners from the Moray Community Planning Partnership and the private sector.  It could also unite all the people of Moray  behind placing sustainability at the heart of all planning strategy for the region.  This venture  could  put Moray at the centre of the gathering wave of interest in all environmental matters in the UK  and  provide  Moray with  " a window on  to  the world".

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com

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