West Midlands Combined Authority has announced that it has once again been confirmed as one of the leading regions when it comes to tackling climate change.
Thanks to a study from Climate Emergency UK, the WMCA is the highest ranked combined authority in the country, as it remains committed to achieving its target of becoming a net zero region within the next 20 years. As part of this commitment, the authority is utilising measures that include significant funding boosts, new skills, and support for community schemes.
Alongside £100 million worth of funding for the retrofitting of homes and businesses to make them more energy efficient, the authority is working to support communities through new green skills courses and community-led projects aiming to protect and restore later, whilst transport is being improved across the board as well. Plans to electrify the bus network across the West Midlands have received high praise, as have programmes to deliver new railway stations that will allow people to use the region’s public transport network better.
📊With an average score of 65%, @WestMids_CA is our combined authority council #TopScorer !👏
— Climate Emergency UK (@ClimateEmergUK) October 18, 2023
The #CouncilClimateScorecards full results will vary across the different sections, check how your council is doing at: https://t.co/Uzv6cyHyc9 pic.twitter.com/EEHlnMqP1U
Mayor of the West Midlands, and Chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority, Andy Street said:
“Our top ranking on Climate Emergency UK’s scorecard is a tremendous independent endorsement of our efforts to meet our #WM2041 net zero commitment.
“We’re delivering right across our region in practical ways. We’re retrofitting homes to make them more energy efficiency and cut household bills, funding valuable community nature projects, and developing sustainable transport infrastructure – including more electric buses, train stations, and cycle routes.
“We will continue to work closely with Government and the private sector to seek innovative solutions in the months and years ahead as we tackle the climate emergency together for the benefit of local people here in the West Midlands.”
The WMCA is also implementing its Greener Together initiative, which is helping residents and businesses to contribute to net zero in their own way, giving communities a say in how regional climate decisions are made.
Councillor John Cotton, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Energy at the West Midlands Combined Authority and Leader of Birmingham City Council, added:
“It’s great to see the West Midlands getting the credit that we deserve for our region-wide efforts to tackle the climate emergency.
“As a group of authorities, we remain committed to delivering on net zero in partnership with local people, business, the third sector and national government. Everyone must play their part in the shared goal of creating a more sustainable West Midlands, for current and future generations, and I look forward to us all continuing to work together on this critical issue.”
As tackling climate change remains one of the biggest challenges around the country, you can hear what the experts are saying at Public Sector Executive's Decarbonisation event in March 2024. Register here.
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