PEOPLE in Wokingham are being asked for their ideas to help meet the town’s promise to be carbon free by 2030.
Cllr Gregor Murray, the new Executive Member for Climate Emergency, is urging residents to contact him with their proposals.
“I want to hear from schools, churches, community groups and individuals of any suggestions and initiatives they have,” he said.
“Climate change affects all of us so taking action is not just something the council should do on its own. I know there are many people in Wokingham and across the borough who take this issue seriously and are studying what other towns and countries are doing.
“Please give me your ideas so we can formulate our own plan and make Wokingham carbon free by the deadline we have set.”
The member for Norreys said one of the first actions the new council took following May’s election was to declare a climate emergency.
Around forty councils across the country have issued similar declarations.
Cllr Murray said the average household creates around five to nine tonnes of carbon emissions each year which needed to be offset.
“Like many people, I have young children and I am determined to ensure they grow up in a healthy environment,” added Cllr Murray.
“The first step is to find out how much carbon we as a town put into the atmosphere and then devise a plan which cancels it out.
“I am asking people and groups of all kinds, to send me their ideas so we can start tackling this issue as soon as possible.”
Cllr Murray said it was wrong to assume becoming carbon free automatically meant raising council tax: “There are various means of tackling climate change such as planting trees and the government provides grants for tree planting.
“Enfield Council borrowed money from the government to install solar panels and they sell the electricity generated to the National grid which in turn provides the council with an income.
“We can’t go on as we are or simply blame countries such as China or India who are big polluters. We need to be the change we want to see in others so that means doing something ourselves and showing others change is possible.”
