Council approves climate change strategy

The council, like many other local authorities across the country, declared a climate emergency in 2019 and pledged to work towards becoming more environmentally sustainable in the coming years.

A climate change and green recovery strategy has been developed and went out to public consultation at the start of 2020.

And on Tuesday it was approved at a full council meeting. All councillors present voted in favour of the strategy, with the exception of one member who abstained.

At the start of the meeting seven members of the public raised questions about the council’s work to tackle climate change.

Ann Elphick said: “Would the council be open to the idea of involving its residents in addressing climate targets, perhaps by consultation with a group such as the Citizens’ Assembly and dialogue with interested groups, individuals and local communities, with regular reporting of progress?

“It would be very uplifting for residents to feel part of it, in a world where there is so much divisiveness.”

Roisin Chambers said: “The draft strategy is well- intentioned but short on specifics. How soon will there be a plan with specific, time-constrained and measurable targets, with clear, named responsibilities ready for implementation?”

Douglas Rouxel said: “How has the council determined that 2040 should be the year when the council achieves zero carbon emissions?

“I am concerned that there doesn’t seem to be a roadmap set out for the council itself and the community of Stafford Borough to achieve major carbon emission reductions. There is so much negativity around, having a clear target would be something Stafford could feel part of, and feel proud of.

“Would it be possible for the council to integrate targets and deadlines, giving the community a clear path on how this will be achieved?”

Responsibility

Councillor Jonathan Price, cabinet member for environment, responded to the questions and said the authority would be willing to work with residents. He added that once initial investigations to establish the current level of carbon emissions were completed further measures could be developed to work towards reducing them.

“We have had some really good questions and I really appreciate that”, he said.

“Climate change is everyone’s responsibility. We need to work with residents and a broad range of public and private sector partners.

“The council is currently in the process of commissioning a carbon audit. Once that is completed the information will be used for a baseline to reduce emissions.

“I have been speaking to a council that set a 2025 target and now they are in a panic because they are not in a position to deliver that timescale. We are in a much better position – we have set ourselves a realistic target,

“I accept it could be sooner but to set ourselves an unrealistic date to deliver this would be wrong.”

Councillor Mark Winnington said: “It’s more important to start the journey and make sure we are prepared to do things as quickly as possible, rather than worrying about the end of the journey, because a lot of things can happen in that time.”

But Councillor Tony Pearce, who abstained from voting to approve the strategy, said: “I would like to welcome a number of aspects of this report, particularly that zero carbon is to be included in the corporate business strategy and the creation of a working group.

“However I believe the report as a whole is disappointing. It’s lacking in detail and it’s lacking in targets and timescale – any strategy should have these elements.”

Councillor Gillian Pardesi said: “We need to be emphasising the urgency and set a plan of action because we only have 12 years to make sure that global warming is limited to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius. We don’t have time to take our time.”