Climate Emergency
On March 5th 2019, Bradford on Avon Town Council voted unanimously for a Climate Emergency Motion pledging to make the town carbon neutral by 2030, joining a growing list of communities not just in the UK but across the World.
To achieve this aim, we all need to act together.
The Enormity of the Problem • Each of us in UK contributes some 10-15
mt/year of CO2
• If we focus on measurement and the immense size of the problem, we’ll get nowhere
• Act and engage, include and encourage
• The more of us doing something, the more likely we’ll succeed
• Bring governments along with us: the power of people and positivity
Climate Emergency Declarations • 230 District and Unitary
Councils across UK declared as of July 2019 (incl. Wilts & BANES)
• A further 100 Town Councils, including BoA, Salisbury, Chippenham, Frome … yesterday TROWBRIDGE!
• Representing 47 million people, 70% of the UK population!
https://climateemergencydeclaration.org/climate-emergency-declarations-cover-15-million-citizens/
Wiltshire population 470k Town Councils 133k
Key Issues • Benchmarking
• Raising awareness and promoting action
• Energy and power supply
• Building and neighbourhood planning
• Transport
• Green space: tree planting & biodiversity
• Waste reduction
• Ecological eating
• Water management
Councils and Individuals • There are different things that a Council can do, may
seem slow, but diligence required – All actions to consider environmental impact – Publicity and awareness – Engage with local groups: CFBOA, PresTrust, Schools – Renewable energy on public buildings – Greenspace management – Share and engage with other Councils
• Actions we can all take – Use green transport – Change to green energy provider, add renewables – Reduce, reuse, recycle – Lobby government – Re-wild corners of your garden, plant trees – Eat local produce, grow your own
BoA Events
• Solar Tea Party
• A Greener Bradford
• CE Community Steering Group launch
• Plastic –free screening of film A Plastic Ocean
A Greener Bradford event in Holy Trinity Church, Sept 2018
Solar panel installation, SMH January 2019
Solar Tea Party,
SMH
March 2019
Plastic-free accreditation achieved, first town in Wiltshire! April 2019
Drinking water station at Sladesbrook, first of three:
inspired by Freshford!
Climate Emergency declared March 2019
CE themed bunting for SW in Bloom,
Summer 2019
Raising Awareness • Climate Emergency website page (which links from our Home
Page giving it precedence) is here: https://bradfordonavontowncouncil.gov.uk/climate-emergency-2019/
• Electronic copies of the last 3 newsletters can be found here: https://bradfordonavontowncouncil.gov.uk/news/quarterly-newsletter/
• Social Media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram) uses hashtags #ClimateEmergency #PlasticFreeCommunity – promotes website NEWS STORIES and also extra things
Website Articles https://bradfordonavontowncouncil.gov.uk/increasing-biodiversity-across-bradford-on-avon/ - Asset transfers, green spaces and blue campaign
https://bradfordonavontowncouncil.gov.uk/boa-produces-the-worlds-largest-jute-bag/ - this was attended by the Mayor and Cllr Franklin
https://bradfordonavontowncouncil.gov.uk/the-st-laurence-school-science-block-fund/ - we’ve launched a competition to name the science block with theme of ‘Ecology’
https://bradfordonavontowncouncil.gov.uk/climate-emergency-bunting-project/ - SWinBloom and bunting project (covered by BBC Wiltshire)
https://bradfordonavontowncouncil.gov.uk/plastic-free-community-status/ - Plastic Free Community Status award (covered by BBC Wiltshire)
https://bradfordonavontowncouncil.gov.uk/climate-emergency-declared-by-town-council/ -CE declared
https://bradfordonavontowncouncil.gov.uk/the-sun-will-be-shining-on-st-margarets-hall/ Solar panels
Social Media Water refill scheme:
https://www.facebook.com/BoATownCouncil/photos/a.1430473320338852/2616052525114253/?type=3&theater¬if_t=page_post_reaction¬if_id=1564275153464547 (covered by BBC Wiltshire)
Water Fountains
https://www.facebook.com/BoATownCouncil/posts/2694986577220847
Blue Campaign at Holy Trinity
https://www.facebook.com/BoATownCouncil/posts/2712586852127486
Kingfishers & Biodiversity
https://www.facebook.com/BoATownCouncil/posts/2681886281864210 and https://www.facebook.com/BoATownCouncil/posts/2691274870925351 (covered by BBC Wiltshire)
CE Steering group launch
https://www.facebook.com/BoATownCouncil/posts/2632224646830374
There are LOADS more but these the most recent!
Moving Forward • Reviewing action plan following steering group launch, 1 August.
– Some projects will be carried by, or supported by Council, some by community.
• Water Fountain project completion
• Bat awareness events in October
• 2020 SW in Bloom theme – ‘Bicycles and Biodiversity’
• Newsletter and social media coverage – ongoing
• Climate Emergency website page development - ongoing
• Enhanced biodiversity management of BOATC greenspaces: including new assets
• Continue to seek locations for renewable energy
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