New first-of-its-kind campaign to help tackle climate change in Cornwall
'Love Where You Are' QR codes will be popping up around the Duchy
A new campaign is launching to help tackle climate change in Cornwall and it's believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, and maybe even the world.
'Love Where You Are' gives residents and tourists a change to give back to the places they visit this summer.
More than five million visitors are set to descend on Cornwall this summer - ten times the region's usual population.
And while their presence will bring a welcome boost to the economy, the influx could have a less positive effect on the local environment. 90 per cent of visitors heading to Cornwall will be travelling by car and demand on local businesses and holiday rentals will increase carbon emissions in a region that declared a climate emergency in 2019.
Created by Crowdfunder, which is based in Newquay, along with Cornwall Council the campaign will see special QR codes pop up in holiday hotspots and areas of outstanding natural beauty, including Port Isaac, Padstow and The Lizard Peninsular.
Visitors can simply use their smartphone to scan the codes and instantly donate to raise funds for great initiatives that will preserve Cornwall for the future and help the region become carbon neutral.
The money raised will support sustainability projects across Cornwall from reducing carbon production and removing carbon from the atmosphere to environmental conservation activity and increasing community resilience.
“We came up with the idea of Love Where You Are so residents and visitors can enjoy the spectacular beauty of Cornwall at the same time as contributing to its sustainability.
“This is the first project of its kind in the UK and something we hope will inspire other parts of the country to follow.
“As a Cornwall-based business, we're delighted to be partnering with Cornwall Council to deliver this unique Crowdfunder public donation fund. There are lots of innovative projects in Cornwall aiming to protect its stunning natural environment and this is a pioneering way for people who love living in and visiting Cornwall to contribute to supporting it’s green future.”
Dawn Bebe, Co-founder and Director of Crowdfunder
“We know how much people value Cornwall’s unique environment and we need our communities and visitors to work together and take action to lower carbon emissions and enhance our natural places. This fund is designed to collect donations from everyone that loves Cornwall and wants to make sure we are leading the way in the fight against climate change and the loss of biodiversity”.
Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change
Local businesses will also be backing the campaign, placing QR codes in their windows to support projects that will help Cornwall become carbon neutral.
The #LoveWhereYouAre campaign is part of Crowdfunder’s broader #Backthefuture campaign, which funds projects led by young people to deliver environmental change across the UK.
It's not the first time Cornwall’s sustainability agenda has been in the spotlight. In June the region hosted the 2021 G7 summit in Carbis Bay as world leaders descended on the south west. The summit itself was entirely carbon neutral and showcased the region’s drive towards on sustainability.
More information about Carbon Neutral Cornwall is available on the Carbon Neutral Cornwall Website Climate emergency - Cornwall Council