A new council committee in Vale of White Horse, which aims to help tackle the climate emergency, met for the first time this week and unanimously recommended that the council should aspire to become carbon neutral by 2030 and become a carbon neutral district by 2045.
As a first step, the committee is recommending the council should aim for a 75 per cent reduction in carbon emissions in their own operations by 2025 and a 75 per cent reduction in carbon emissions in the district by 2030.
The role of the new Climate Emergency Advisory Committee, which met in public on 15 October in the council’s building Milton Park, is to make recommendations to Cabinet on how Vale of White Horse District Council can reduce damage to the global and local environment through its policies and practices.
Among the topics discussed by the committee was the council’s response to the climate emergency through its policies and projects and how it runs its day-to-day operations. There was an emphasis on the need for research into feasibility of proposed changes and also partnership working across the county at all levels with Vale of White Horse giving the lead for towns, parishes and residents to make changes.
Cllr David Grant, Chair of the committee, said: “We’d like to thank all those who joined us and spoke at the meeting this week. Our hope is that with the support of residents and our partners we can help make real changes in the Vale.
“While we have set a date for net zero emissions, this is not enough. What is more important is taking action now to set the local area on the path towards it, backed up by sound research. Which is why we are looking at a stepped approach with carbon reduction targets of 75 per cent first. We want to offer residents and local communities and councils aspirational but also achievable targets with the Vale leading the way.”
Notes to editors
The committee meets in public to advise the council’s Cabinet on matters relating to the climate emergency.
The committee will research ways in which the council can contribute to national and countywide targets on climate and ecological issues and identify sources of external funding relating to the climate emergency.
The council declared a climate emergency at a meeting in April 2019.
This new committee will make recommendations on how the council can set a course for the district to help tackle the global and local environment through its policies and practices. It would also aim to work with and advise and influence partner organisations.