The Isle of Wight is set to become Britain’s first truly sustainable region, aiming to be self-sufficient and carbon neutral by 2020.

The organisation behind the scheme, EcoIsland, has just received the backing of the Government to help turn the vision into a reality.

Richard Benyon MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment and Fisheries, praised the successes already achieved by the EcoIsland community.

He went on to offer the EcoIsland team the full support of a range of Government departments and initiatives, including the £860m Renewable Heat Incentive with its aim of securing 12% of the UK’s heat from renewable sources by 2020.

The Isle of Wight and the EcoIsland community hopes to become a beacon of sustainability to not just the rest of the UK but to the world. The project aims to include a number of green community ventures including electric cars, energy saving, renewable energy, waste management and carbon reduction schemes.  

The EcoIslanders believe that living in close harmony with the land around them, by managing their energy needs more carefully, and by growing and distributing local produce, they will achieve carbon neutrality before 2020.

It seems like the Isle of Wight might just have to consider a name change - to Paradise.

[Image: bortescristian]