Lib Dems Set Up Partnership To Tackle Guildford’s Own Climate Emergency

Published on: 20 Oct, 2019
Updated on: 22 Oct, 2019

Guildford’s Lib Dem councillors are partnering other parties, community groups and environmental experts, to help everyone in the borough tackle the climate emergency.

After the May election, a Lib Dem motion declared a climate emergency that required urgent action, with a commitment aimed at making the council’s own activities net-zero carbon by 2030.

A Climate Change and Innovation Board (CCIB) was created at Guildford Borough Council with cross-party membership and representatives from Guildford Environmental Forum and the University of Surrey.

Cllr Caroline Reeves

Lib Dem Council Leader Caroline Reeves said: “Chaired by Independent Cllr Gordon Jackson, the CCIB met on October 15 to confirm the heads of terms and key priorities. The board agreed to develop an urgent action plan for the council and the borough.

“The council is responsible for less than 1% of emissions in the borough, so clearly we can’t tackle the climate emergency on our own. Partnership working on the CCIB and throughout all our activities is the way forward.

Cllr Gordon Jackson

“As well as getting our own house in order in all the areas of our work, as a council we want to get the message out to everyone in our community, both businesses and residents, that we can all work together to really make a difference on climate change.

“We will be sharing what we can all do from the bigger schemes for businesses to the smaller changes in the home. Communication is the key.”

Cllr Susan Parker

Cllr Susan Parker (GGG, Send), who recently critcised her fellow councillors for five months of inaction, said: “The words are good, but only actions count.

“We shouldn’t just look at the council’s own activities (I’ll assume 1% is correct), we must look at our area as a whole, where council decisions have a huge impact.

“As the planning authority, it sets local planning rules.  We need it to be more ambitious in tackling climate change.  We need stringent, greener, planning regulations which restrict car use and urban sprawl.

“We must re-use urban brownfield, it’s more sustainable. Our policies must not worsen our carbon footprint. We mustn’t let bad policies continue through inertia. At present, council decisions are doing exactly that.”

Cllr Deborah Seabrook

Cllr Deborah Seabrook (R4GV, Merrow), who sits on the CCIB, said: “I’m really pleased to follow up on R4GV’s manifesto pledges to protect the environment by playing an active role on the CCIB.

“We want to encourage, co-ordinate and drive initiatives to reduce the Borough’s emissions and carbon footprint.

“R4GV councillors are meeting with climate campaigners, environmentalists and scientists to identify the key actions that will make a difference, and are achievable.”

Brian Creese

Brian Creese, spokesperson for Guildford Labour, said: “Guildford Labour welcomes the Lib Dem willingness to work cross-party in tackling the climate emergency. The GBC Labour Group  wholeheartedly supported the climate crisis motion.

“They were touched and impressed at the passion and eloquence of the speeches by the young people at that meeting.

“Labour and the Lib Dems have committed to decarbonising Britain by 2030. We understand that only a transformational, socialist Green New Deal can steer us away from lasting damage to our climate, while sustaining the living standards and jobs we now enjoy.

“Bringing our economy to net-zero carbon emissions will not be easy,  but only with wide-reaching public investment in green technology and renewable energy under a Labour government will we start to tackle climate change seriously.

“We need to work together cross-party, and with community groups, trade unions, advocacy groups and local residents to develop a strategy that works. We stand ready to lend our support.”

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