Liberal Democrats call for Climate Change action
Councillor Hilde Hendrickx, Liberal Democrat climate spokesperson, calls on the Mayor to do more to tackle Climate Change.
During Full Council on 25th February, Councillor Hendrickx reminded the Mayor of our local climate timeline.
Cllr Hilde Hendrickx said “In March 2019, under the previous Mayor, Bedford Borough Council declared a Climate Emergency and pledged to become carbon neutral by 2030. Since then, the local effects of climate change have only become more obvious. Bedford Borough has experienced heat waves, drought, and repeated flooding. Extreme weather events will only become more intense and frequent.”
“Although the council does have a Carbon Reduction Delivery Strategy, the council does not have a comprehensive Climate Change strategy outlining all the measures it will take to mitigate climate change and adapt to its effects.”
” I urge that the Mayor, as Chair of the Climate Change committee, actually lead on a coordinated approach to Climate Change across the Council. Bedford Borough Council has a lot of influence and reach in our area: through supply chains and partnerships the Council’s influence accounts for around 30 per cent of emissions, for example.”
“The Local Plan, green jobs, decarbonising the Council’s own estate and operations: all of these are potential areas of minimising our impact on the climate crisis. The Mayor must step up and lead.”