The UK is currently hosting COP26 in Glasgow, bringing world leaders together to tackle climate change. It could be the moment the world turns the risk of dangerous climate change around.
In East Staffordshire, the Council declared a ‘Climate Emergency’ in August 2020 and set an aspiration to make the borough carbon neutral by 2040.
Following the declaration, a comprehensive Climate Change Action Plan was developed containing actions to help local people and businesses contribute to becoming carbon neutral. The Plan covers several themes including energy generation and use, transport and travel, resource use and waste and how we use green space.
Councillor Bernard Peters, Deputy Leader for Community and Regulatory Services, said: “Climate change is an important issue for everybody in the borough so I am pleased to say that the important work of delivering our Climate Change Action Plan is already happening. We will keep the community informed as the actions progress”.
The Council recently purchased a new fleet of waste vehicles, five of which are electric, contributing to the plan target to replace its waste collection fleet with low emission vehicles by 2030.
The Council also carried a motion in July to phase out all single-use plastics wherever possible in its buildings and services over the next 12 months. This includes items such as cutlery, plates, vending machine cups, food packaging, condiment sachets, most of which are not recycled.
Councillor Peters continued: “Every member of the community will need to be involved if we are going to secure a carbon neutral future for the borough. We will be developing the Climate Change Action Plan further in the new year and as part of the process want to involve the community in the changes that we make”.
The Climate Change Action Plan can be found on the council’s website at: http://www.eaststaffsbc.gov.uk/environmental-health/climate-change