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Business Leaders and Influencers focus on Climate Action Plan

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Business Leaders and Influencers focus on Climate Action Plan

Today (3 December 2021), saw the first meeting of a Climate Working Group which brings together representatives from the private sector, utilities including water gas and telecoms, local councils, and other local bodies with a common focus to promote and champion collective local action on climate issues, recognising that decisions by one organisation can have impacts for others.

The working group has been created following recommendations made in a report which was published in October by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Independent Commission on Climate and chaired by Baroness Brown of Cambridge, Dame Julia King.

The mission of the working group is to demonstrate local leadership and ensure coherent, system-wide action on tackling the causes and effects of climate change, and through collaborative working ensure an effective and immediate response within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough that is fair, long lasting and appropriately timed to meet national Net Zero targets by 2030. Greenhouse emissions across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are almost 25% higher per person than the UK average.

The challenge for the group is to create an action plan in response to the Independent Commission’s recommendation which will be presented to the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Board at the end of March 2022.

Dr Nik Johnson, Chair of the Climate Working Group, and Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough said: “I’m really pleased about the level of interest in this working group, and it is great to see organisations are coming together to talk about and tackle the huge impact that climate change is having across the region.

“We’re not going to be able to solve these challenges overnight and there will be some difficult issues to address but I am confident that we will be able to present a coherent    action plan in response to the Independent Commission’s recommendations and to help mitigate the impact of climate change across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.”

Baroness Brown, Chair of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Independent Commission on Climate said: “The Commissions work was just the start of the process. It’s great to see the area coming together to look at these challenges and the common complex problems.

“Emissions in this area are significantly higher than the UK average, and we face particularly high risks here from flooding, drought and high temperatures. 2021 has shown us, in the UK and globally, how fast the climate is changing and how devastating the impacts can be. It’s important that these steps don’t disadvantage residents and communities most vulnerable to climate impact.”

Martin Lines, UK Chair Nature Friendly Farming Network said: “I am really pleased to be joining and supporting the Climate Working Group and helping demonstrate how farmers can help deliver solutions for our Climate and Biodiversity crisis. With clear leadership and working together we can all deliver the solutions that are urgently needed.”