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&notif_t=page_post_reaction&notif_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