THE MONEY announced for climate emergency “was already in the budget before you declared a climate emergency … How is this £50 million for the climate emergency when it looks like it’s old money with a new name?”
That was a question posed by resident Ian Shenton at a meeting of Wokingham Borough Council, held on Thursday, February 20.
He wanted to know how the money would be spent as the council planned to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2030.
Cllr Gregor Murray, the executive member for climate emergency, said: “We have very deliberately brought together all the programmes and projects that we believe will influence and help break down our carbon footprint.
“Yes, some of these are existing programmes, but it makes sense for it all to happen in one place, under one officer group to make sure it can be monitored effectively.”
Cllr Murray also said that the allocated funding for the next three years would be for the following projects:
- Developing infrastructure for renewable energy generation from solar farms
- Reducing energy consumption in council-owned assets, such as LED lighting, cavity wall and loft insulation and boiler controls
- Investing in energy reduction schemes to support residents and small businesses
- Investing in greenways, cycle networks and footpaths
- Enhancing transport infrastructure
- Improving waste and recycling schemes
- A rolling programme of capital projects to enhance biodiversity
