‘Long on words, short on action...’
GREEN COUNCILLOR DELIVERS ECO BLAST AT COUNCIL
DERBYSHIRE’S Green Party county councillor says the authority has “failed” to recognise the climate emergency and is “long on words and short on action”.
Cllr Gez Kinsella, elected to represent Duffield and Belper on the county council in May, feels he was appointed as a result of a growing public recognition that there is a global and a local challenge to combat climate change which has to start with councillors.
Six months into the job, and while the meeting of world leaders at the COP26 conference in Glasgow is in full swing, he said: “Derbyshire County Council first set out its climate change ambitions in the May 2019 Climate Change manifesto.
“Nearly two-and-a-half years later, there has been some progress. The roll-out of LED street lighting is an example. But the approach remains ad hoc – long on words and short on action.
“The long list of actions amounts to a broad wish list and not a targeted plan with clear goals and resources.
“Furthermore, DCC’S ambitions will only be delivered with the involvement of the whole community.
“We all need to make some changes in what we do to achieve net zero emissions. Despite this and unlike many other councils, DCC plans to consult the community only after the strategy has already been agreed by politicians.
“The Single Use Plastic Policy was signed off by DCC’S Climate Change Committee in July and included an action plan. A rather vague one.
“However, when it was approved by the cabinet last month, the action plan was not included. All words and no action, again. There is a danger these policies become just more greenwash.” I want to support the administration and help them achieve these important ambitions.
“However, there is a failure to recognise that we are in a climate emergency.”
Cllr Kinsella says the council could reduce transport emissions by further promoting walking and cycling, and with measures which would reduce car use.
This could include more bike workshops and to provide a small grant to support businesses which are looking to promote cycling.
Another suggestion was to restrict car use by “reallocating” road space for alternative uses other than vehicle travel. Further measures would be more segregated cycle lanes and cycle routes planned into new developments.
All this, he said, could be brought together by politicians, community groups, cycling clubs, bike shop owners and residents.
Cllr Barry Lewis, Conservative leader of the county council, said: “I cannot agree with Cllr Kinsella’s take on the situation. DCC declared a climate crisis, a position that unfortunately the opposition felt they couldn’t support, and as such we’re very focused on targeted actions and measures to help drive down carbon emissions.
“Our recently approved Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan sets out what we will do and when over the coming years to reduce emissions from our estate and property to net zero by 2032 and from across the county to net zero by 2050
“We’ve cut emissions from street lights and by the time the project is complete next year, we’ll be saving more than 9,700 tonnes of carbon from lighting every year compared to 2015-16.
“Clearly action is needed on an unprecedented scale and DCC has a crucial role to play. That’s why we’re leading this once-ina-generation opportunity to reduce carbon emissions in Derbyshire to help meet ambitious national targets.
“But it’s not something the council can do on its own.
“Our overall strategy sets the foundations to establish a sensible, credible, measured and cohesive plan in which every business and household feels empowered to play their part. “All of this points to critical transformative actions by the county council – and I’ve always said it’s about actions not words.
“Unfortunately it’s all too easy for some to lob bombs from the side-lines.”
Cllr Lewis listed numerous other commitments from the council including a £2 million Green Entrepreneurs Fund to help businesses reduce their carbon usage; a scholarship fund to train people to in alternative energy education; assisting in installing 120 electric vehicle charging points and aim to install 1,000 by 2025 by working with businesses and other councils; decarbonising the council’s vehicle fleet and exploring the use of hydrogen for buses and heavy vehicles; investing in the cycle network; working with councils to develop environmentallyfriendly housing and retrofit housing with energy efficiency improvements; working to plant more wildflowers.
They have a broad wish list, not a targeted plan with clear goals and resources.
Cllr Gez Kiinsella