The Fresh Produce Consortium has been singled out for successfully promoting energy efficiency through initiatives funded by the Carbon Trust.

The Carbon Trust Networks programme named the FPC in a list of eight pro-energy saving trade organisations at a gathering in London to celebrate the completion of the year-long projects, supported by grants of £20,000.

The range of initiatives showcased reflected the programme’s aims to support a wide variety of member activities geared towards the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

The Networks Programme supports groups who wish to launch awareness raising campaigns highlighting the cost of wasted energy and carbon emissions.

The funding also backs the development of specific technical guidance and toolkits, designed to help industries manage their carbon reduction measures and overall energy use more effectively.

Karen Germain, networks manager at the Carbon Trust, said: “It’s great to see these initial projects beginning to drive sector participation in the fight against climate change. We believe that trade and professional bodies have an important role to play in championing carbon reduction measures amongst their member businesses and colleagues, and are keen to receive proposals from other bodies looking to devise programmes to help their members tackle climate change. We’d encourage anyone who wants to find out more to contact us.”

Other trade and professional or members bodies are now being called upon to help their members tackle climate change - with offers of Carbon Trust funding to support initiatives which will cut carbon emissions. Recently revised funding bands of up to £30,000 or £140,000 are on offer for those organisations keen to take action on climate change.

To apply for the funding, applicants are required to produce a detailed plan outlining how their initiative will deliver demonstrable carbon dioxide emissions savings, by January 9, 2007.

Interested organisations should visit www.carbontrust.co.uk/carbon/networks to find out more details about the programme.

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