WARRINGTON Borough Council is aiming to set up a number of forums to enable it to work in partnership with residents, the private sector and other organisations to tackle climate change.
The forums will form part of the authority’s drive to achieve nett zero carbon emissions by 2030.
But the Covid-19 pandemic has slowed down progress. The council does not believe it is not the right time to launch the forums as the public and businesses currently have greater concerns.
Four forums are current proposed :
*A public climate forum, designed out to find out what people think, to listen to their concerns and find ways to make Warrington a greener and more sustainable place.
*Council employees and other local government climate forum, which would seek the views of council employees, parish councils, the NHS, emergency services, LiveWire, the Environment Agency and social housing providers.
*Young people’s climate forum. bringing together children and young adults to hear expert speakers and feedback on their own ideas.
*Business climate forum, giving the council an opportunity to engage with industry and commerce to reduce their energy usage.
Cllr Judith Guthrie, Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet member for environment and public protection, will present a report to the next meeting of the cabinet on March 8 on progress towards achieving zero carbon emissions.
She said: “In order to achieve our nett zero goals we understand that we cannot do this alone. The council and the public sector as a whole will need to work in partnership with the private sector, our residents and other organisation within the borough. It is proposed that a number of forums are structured in order to set specific goals to achieve targeted outcomes to deliver nett zero by 2030.”
However, she said, due to the current global situation, it was felt it was not the right time to set up communication pathways as the public and businesses currently had greater concerns.
“It will be revisited when the pandemic has settled down, hopefully within the second quarter of this year.”
It is planned to set up a comprehensive website where residents can inform themselves of what is going on and how they can contribute to achieving the council’s climate change goals.
In the meantime, Warrington is already a climate change trailblazer.
It took possession of its York solar farm in December 2019 – the largest and most technically advanced solar and battery storage project in the UK. It can generate enough energy to power 10,000 homes. It took possession of its Hull solar farm in October last year, which can generate enough energy for 8,000 homes.
The council is already introducing electric vehicles into its fleet and has installed charging points for its own use.
And the authority was only the second in a generation to issue a community investment bond, which was a complete success with the public taking up £1 million.
