News / climate change
Mayor announces action plan for tackling climate change
Responding to growing concerns about the threat of climate change, mayor Marvin Rees is set to present an action plan for Bristol.
In it, he will “reiterate his commitment” to tackling the global emergency by setting a new target for Bristol City Council to neutralise its own carbon emissions by 2025.
The mayor has also said he will take the lead in fulfilling the city-wide pledge to become carbon neutral by 2030 following a motion tabled by Green councillor Carla Denyer in November last year that gained unanimous support.
is needed now More than ever
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Read more: Bristol declares climate emergency and pledges to become carbon neutral by 2030
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“We are leading by example to bring Bristol together in the face of one of the biggest global threats facing our planet,” said Rees on Monday.
“We might be one city in the context of a worldwide issue but it’s vital we take immediate action for our citizens and work with them to empower them to contribute, addressing any barriers along the way. Our response must be inclusive to ensure everyone benefits.
“Developing a One City Climate Strategy for Bristol is critical to putting in place the governance structures we need to bring together our city to effectively and urgently make the changes we need to make transformative action.”
A report that will be presented to a meeting of full council on Tuesday, July 16 states that almost 60 per cent of carbon emissions in Bristol are caused by imported consumption.
Responding to this, Rees adds: “This is a fundamental challenge to city government, corporations and citizens to take urgent action to change behaviours.”
Marvin Rees will announce full details of the strategy on July 16
The mayor will also present a list of actions that are planned or already underway at the meeting on Tuesday.
These include:
- Working towards a low-emission mass transit system and bus deal
- Installing solar panels on 10,000 council-owned homes
- Improve recycling in the city and build a new recycling and household waste centre
- Increase the use of renewable energy by 200 per cent
Rees has pledged to educate council staff in the field of climate change and has put aside £50,000 in funds to accommodate this. He is also calling on the government to assist him with the bid to reach the 2030 target by appealing for resources and support.
Read more: ‘Bristol is at the forefront of fighting climate change’
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