Mayor Urges For Locally-Led Carbon Action

Mayor Urges For Locally-Led Carbon Action

Mayor Nik Johnson has urged the adoption of recommendations to create a green print for locally-led carbon action to be put at the heart of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Communities.

The call for action comes ahead of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority response to more than 30 recommendations calling for the need for investment into mitigating and adapting to climate change covering transport, buildings, energy and peat, and a number of overarching recommendations made by Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Independent Commission on Climate (CPICC) in its interim report by back in March 2021.

The CPICC, chaired by Broness Brown of Cambridge, drew on the commissioned work of experts, public consultation and best practice, and highlighted that the regions allowed share of emission to 2050 could be exhausted within as little as six years if no action was taken.

The Combined Authorities response will be considered at its Board meeting tomorrow (30 June).

In the report to Board, details of the steps the Combined Authority proposes or has already made the decision to take, have been highlighted to help the region meet the Net Zero target for carbon emissions, with the Combined Authority’s own operations to be net zero by 2030.

Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough said:

“The impact of carbon emission across the UK is massive and I’m particularly concerned that emissions here are 25% higher, per person, than the rest of the country. We need to act now to reduce this.

“Creating the Independent Commission on Climate to help identify our challenges was something that my predecessor, James Palmer, introduced and this is something I whole heartedly support. I not only welcome the Commission’s initial recommendations but I’m looking forward to their final recommendations which we expect to be see published later in the year.

“We are not just fighting for the health of the planet but as a children’s doctor, I understand only too well the impact surroundings can have on people’s lives and wellbeing.  The health of children and our future children depend on us and the decisions we’re making now. We simply haven’t got the time go on as we are.

“We need to step up and forward together, act and get onto a sustainable roadmap to reduce emissions in line with UK targets and to mitigate the impacts of climate change that are already happening across our region. At the same time, I understand that we need to be mindful of the need for fairness for all our communities and this will be central to our approach.

“I see the Combined Authority providing a central role in this and helping the region make informed choices to reduce their contribution towards the impact of carbon emissions, whether it’s providing better and greener public transport, supporting homes to become more energy efficient and helping families out of fuel poverty or investing in the retraining and giving people the skills to help them find new opportunity of green jobs across the region.

“Action needs to be taken now. Therefore, I’m endorsing an urgent and effective, collective and co-operative approach to tackle climate change and I’m calling for these recommendations to be adopted in full by the Combined Authority’s board and for them to act as our green print for the future sustainability and growth.”