In 2019, Chorley Council declared a Climate Emergency and pledged that the borough would be carbon neutral by 2030. The Council are consulting at the moment on a draft Climate Change Strategy and the local Green Party are concerned about the pace of progress, and about the emphasis of the report.
“Chorley Green Party fully supports the Council’s aspiration for the borough to be carbon neutral by 2030, and encourages the Council to take action and speed up the rate of progress – the Council are not acting like we are living through a climate emergency,” says co-ordinator Andy Hunter-Rossall. “It has taken two and a half years to publish a strategy, and much of the strategy consists of commitments to publish more detailed plans by 2024!”
With about a third of the borough’s carbon emissions coming from transport, and over a quarter coming from heating buildings, Hunter-Rossall also expressed concern about the lack of emphasis on these areas.
“The Council’s strategy is lacking in targets for reducing the energy consumption of our existing housing,” said Hunter-Rossall. “At a time when many are already facing a huge increase in the cost-of-living, and with energy prices likely to rise again, making our homes warm, insulated and efficient should be a top priority for the Council.”
Co-Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, Carla Denyer, visited Chorley this weekend, and spoke to local members and supporters about what councils should be doing on Climate Change. She echoed Hunter-Rossall’s emphasis on transport and housing. “In Lewes, Green Councillors have begun a programme to retrofit 40,000 social homes with insulation and renewable energy installations [2],” Denyer said. “The project will train a big new retrofit workforce and build a local supply chain, using local materials and local suppliers. It’s a great example of what can be done by councils to drive climate innovation at scale.”
The Council’s Climate Change Strategy consultation is open until 25th April, and you can read the strategy and submit your response here: https://yoursay.citizenspace.com/communications/climate-change-strategy-consultation/