Following in the footsteps of COP26, Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Climate Change Portfolio, Cllr Ian Shenton has been promoting the work the District Council is doing since it declared a Climate Change Emergency in July 2019 and recently gave a Climate Change talk at the Methodist Church in Stratford-upon-Avon, which was also attended by the Leader, Cllr Tony Jefferson.
As part of the on-going work, a joint action programme has been agreed with Warwick District Council, but with local themes, as this ensures making the best use of joint resources, whilst tackling more local issues to Stratford District.
There are three ambitions:
- Ambition 1 - Net Zero Carbon Council by 2025: ensure the new South Warwickshire Council is net zero carbon within a year of its first elections and services provided through contractors include carbon reduction targets to deliver net zero by 2030.
- Ambition 2 - Low Carbon South Warwickshire 2030: to reduce net carbon emissions from across South Warwickshire by a minimum of 55% by 2030 and how to further reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.
- Ambition 3 - Adaptation 2050: by 2050 to enable our environment and communities to have adapted to the potential of at least a 3 degrees rise in global temperatures by 2100
Cllr Shenton said: "There are many actions underneath our ambitions, but there are also many simple things we can all do to play our part. Don't leave the tap running when you brush your teeth, recycle as much as you can - there is still a lot of waste going into the grey bins that should be in the blue or green bins. If you are able, use the car less, buy loose vegetables and fruit, reduce meat consumption by a little and don't waste food. These may be small things but collectively they mount up and as far as waste goes the less that goes to landfill causing greenhouse gas (such as methane which is up to 30 times worse than CO2) emissions, the better.
"Over the coming months we will be putting lots of messages out via social media, the local media, in our council tax booklet delivered with council tax bills and using bin hangers (little paper hangers that are hung on your dustbin). Also look out for our new dedicated website and our 'one small thing' campaign."
One project the District Council is currently delivering on, after being awarded Government funding for home improvement works as part of the Green Home Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme, is in Wootton Wawen. The funding is being used to improve insulation on 12 park homes, making them warmer and cheaper to heat as well as helping to reduce carbon emissions. It is hoped that more funding will be available in the coming months as further grant schemes become available.
Other work includes the South Warwickshire Plan, which will incorporate policies that support the Council's Climate Change ambitions including delivering adaptable and net zero carbon developments, wherever possible ensuring infrastructure is in place to support low carbon lifestyles and adaptation to a changing climate and supporting the green economy.
District Councillors have also recently spent some time with the Heart of England Forest planting trees at their site in Binton - Councillors visit the Heart of England Forest | Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Cllr Shenton added: "We all have to adapt to climate change and play our part. As a District Council we are only able to influence the areas that are in our gift and areas of our responsibility, which is challenging especially having to rely on others in some cases.
"We have a beautiful world worth saving for future generations to enjoy, just as current and previous generations have enjoyed and any actions large or small will help towards this."
