Passing a motion and declaring a climate emergency is one thing; doing something practical that makes a difference to the communities we serve is something else.
I am disappointed to see the lip service paid by some councils to this subject: their commitment isn’t worth the paper it is written on; we can see on our TVs the terrible effect that global warming is causing.
I am delighted that the LGA has launched its #PassThePlanet campaign, promoting local government good practice and innovative solutions for others to scale up or replicate.
One of my pledges on becoming group leader was to shout from the highest mountain about the great work Liberal Democrat councils and councillors do.
Tackling climate change is at the top of many of our agendas – from the pioneering work at Cheltenham in reducing the energy consumption of its leisure estate, to my own council, Cotswold, in producing a net-zero toolkit for new housing developments.
“Tackling climate change is at the top of many of our agendas”
Three Rivers, St Albans, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse are among the best five recyclers in the country, while Portsmouth is installing more solar panels than any other council.
Then there are Bath & North East Somerset’s and Chelmsford’s pioneering tree-planting programmes; Watford’s massive expansion of cycling infrastructure; Waverley’s new net-zero homes; and York’s plans for the country’s first net-zero neighbourhood and a massive social house building programme, to name a few.
Action speaks louder than words on climate action. It’s time for those not taking action to wake up.
I am disappointed to see the lip service paid by some councils to this subject: their commitment isn’t worth the paper it is written on; we can see on our TVs the terrible effect that global warming is causing.
I am delighted that the LGA has launched its #PassThePlanet campaign, promoting local government good practice and innovative solutions for others to scale up or replicate.
One of my pledges on becoming group leader was to shout from the highest mountain about the great work Liberal Democrat councils and councillors do.
Tackling climate change is at the top of many of our agendas – from the pioneering work at Cheltenham in reducing the energy consumption of its leisure estate, to my own council, Cotswold, in producing a net-zero toolkit for new housing developments.
Three Rivers, St Albans, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse are among the best five recyclers in the country, while Portsmouth is installing more solar panels than any other council.
Then there are Bath & North East Somerset’s and Chelmsford’s pioneering tree-planting programmes; Watford’s massive expansion of cycling infrastructure; Waverley’s new net-zero homes; and York’s plans for the country’s first net-zero neighbourhood and a massive social house building programme, to name a few.
Action speaks louder than words on climate action. It’s time for those not taking action to wake up.
