20.11.19
Leicester City Council invites residents to help in climate emergency
Leicester City Council launched a three-month consultation yesterday (Nov 19) asking residents to have their say on Leicester’s climate emergency action plan.
The citywide vision of making Leicester carbon neutral and join the global fight against climate change is being put in the hand of its residents.
Experts predict that we are less than 12 years away from the effects of global heating becoming irreversible, and 1,180 cities and jurisdictions around the world have declared a climate emergency.
Leicester City council made the declaration in February 2019 and is now developing an ambitious plan for the council’s response and becoming carbon neutral.
Initial drafts of the vision, which runs for the next three months, have six key focus areas for change, at home, consumer choices, travel and transport, at work, land use/green space and waste.
A boost to renewable energy needs to happen and more energy efficient, with low carbon alternatives to heating and new sustainable housing and buildings will need building.
People will also need to move towards a plant-based diet to reduce the amount of meat, eggs and dairy produce we consume.
The council has said that in order to make these changes, many residents will need help and financial support.
Huge emphasis will also need to be put on travel and transport emissions, with a move towards walking, cycling and public transport vital in this fight.
Deputy city mayor Adam Clarke, who leads on environment and transportation, said:
“Leicester has already almost halved its carbon footprint against 1990 levels. The city council has reduced its own carbon emissions by over 45 per cent in a decade. This is a fantastic achievement, but we know now that more needs to be done.
“Responding to the climate emergency will mean making big changes to the way we live and work.
“It affects everyone and that’s why it’s so important that people can help shape how the city responds and meets its responsibilities to become carbon neutral.
“We’ve launched a formal consultation but that will be just one element of Leicester’s climate emergency conversation. We will be introducing a whole range of other ways that people can have their say on this hugely important issue over the coming weeks and months.”
Leicester City Council will also host an online discussion forum on the climate emergency in mid-December and two emergency assemblies, one for young people, early in the new year.
The online survey will run until Monday 10 Feb 2020.