A Gedling borough-based eco group last week handed over a report to local councillors that is calling on them to respond urgently and with commitment to the climate and nature crisis.
Over 90 residents have contributed directly to the citizen-led Climate and Nature Report, that was commissioned following the Climate Convention held at Arnold Civic Centre in November last year.
“The recent flooding that has affected so many communities locally over the past two weeks shows clearly why reports like this are so important”, said David Eminson, one of the co-authors of the Report and a member of Gedling Climate Change Group that organised the convention.
“The increased rainfall and intensity we have experienced is what scientists have told us to expect as the planet hits unprecedented heating and here it is, for all to see”.
“This report captures a whole range of citizens’ ideas for tackling the climate and nature crisis. A crisis that’s on our doorstep here in Gedling as well as nationally and internationally.”
“There is clear support from local people and It is now time for the Borough and County Councils as well as our MPs to review these ideas and put them into practice wherever possible”.
The Report has been presented to Cllr John Clarke, leader of Gedling Borough Council and it has also been sent to the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, Cllr Ben Bradley, as well as all local councillors and Tom Randall, MP for Gedling.
Alongside controlling water and flooding, citizens highlighted the importance of rapidly weaning ourselves off the burning of fossil fuels and investing instead in renewables – wind, solar and nuclear – this would reduce our carbon dioxide emissions and reduce our energy costs – a win-win. Instead our government is giving licences for new oil and gas fields in the North Sea including the massive Rosebank field.
One of the most popular ideas to come out of the citizen-led event was around local housing – properly insulating all homes and putting solar panels on all appropriate roofs. This would save people significant amounts of money through reduced heating bills as well as cutting back on fossil fuel emissions of carbon dioxide, a major contributor to climate change. In a cost of living crisis this was seen as another win-win solution.
On the same day as participants were attending the conference in November, the planet’s temperature broke a new record high of 2.0C above pre-industrial times and 2023 too has been the hottest year on record – clearly demonstrating that we are in the midst of an emergency now and require an emergency response from our politicians.
Another pertinent request from contributors to the report was “we need politicians more visibly committed to the green agenda” and Gedling Climate Change Group are demanding that “all officers and councillors and MPs receive significant and on-going mandatory training on climate and nature issues – this would ensure their decisions would have beneficial impacts on tackling the crisis and not exacerbate it”.
Other ideas in the Report included improving cycling and walking provision together with good and cheap public transport to reduce dependency on car use – reducing air pollution on our streets and improving health and wellbeing.
This is a crucial report demonstrating local concerns about climate change and it’s impact. We can’t go on sleepwalking into a future that at it will see fundamental and catastrophic change unless we take action NOW!
Thanks for such a good, local article about how the climate changes need to be mitigated by local and national action
Getting developers to build future proof houses must be possible, so that they become the new ‘normal’ ’ for our youngsters
That high attendance at the Convention shows how much local people want to see more action