Climate change challenge progress ‘Solid’

Solid progress towards tackling climate change is being made by businesses and community groups five years on from Telford & Wrekin Council declaring a climate emergency.

This was the key message to come out of a climate change conference set up by the Council and attended by almost 40 partners.

The main aims of the conference were:
-To get an update from partners about what they are doing to tackle climate change.
-To talk about how businesses, public services and communities can better prepare for weather extremes in the future and how the partnership can support.
-Promote networking

Those attending included Telford businesses Schwalbe tyres, Polytec plastics and DeterTech security, as well as community groups including Climate Action Hub Telford and Shropshire Good Food Partnership. Town and Parish Councils were also at the event along with Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital and Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust.

One example of the many climate change projects involves 10 primary schools in Telford and Wrekin getting a £1,000 grant to help them cut carbon emissions through reducing food waste or growing their own ingredients. The Schools Food Web has been created by Shropshire Good Food Partnership and aims to educate children about healthy eating, too.

Through Telford Energy Advice (TEA), the free and impartial energy advice service funded by Telford & Wrekin Council, about 3,000 households have been supported over the last two years to cut their bills with an estimated total saving of almost £40,000. A further 236 households have been referred for funded energy efficiency measures.

Councillor Carolyn Healy (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning & Sustainability said:

“It’s fantastic just how much is going on in Telford and Wrekin to tackle the climate emergency.

“I’m really proud of the role the Council is playing to support partners. Whether that’s setting up the climate change partnership in the first instance and organising the annual conference to providing funding and connecting the business community.

“I’m also proud of the Council for being a catalyst for change. We are leading by example and have cut our carbon emissions by 61 per cent since 2019 and are currently on track to hit our net zero ambition by 2030.

“The fight against climate change is not something we can do in isolation. We need a united effort and the support of organisations across the borough as well as our residents.”

Allan Wilson, Chair of the partnership said:

“Climate change remains one of the biggest issues to affect the health and wellbeing of residents in Telford and Wrekin.

“The conference was a great opportunity for businesses of all sizes to come together to show we all care about climate change and want to work towards the same goal.”

The event, held earlier this month, was also a chance to talk about how partners can work together to become more resilient to the impacts of climate change, such as flooding and heatwaves. Telford & Wrekin Council is robustly planning for this to make sure vital services will keep running and travel disruption is reduced. It is also looking at how existing and new buildings can adapt to extremes of temperature including how community spaces can set up cool rooms.

Pic: Telford Live