Cov joined A-list cities for climate leadership
COVENTRY has joined a list of cities recognised for their transparency and action on climate change.
Along with four other cities in the UK, Coventry is on the CDP Cities A list - the list of cities recognised for climate leadership.
It puts the city in the same category as the likes of Melbourne, Mexico City, and Los Angeles - and closer to home; London, Bournemouth,
Greater Manchester and Leicester.
The purpose of the list is to encourage cities to
“ramp up their climate ambition”.
More than 850 were measured and Coventry is one of 105 to have ranked in the top bracket.
Coventry, like other cities, measured and reported key environmental data such as emissions, climaterelated vulnerabilities, and actions to reduce emissions and adapt to risks.
They were then scored from A to D - based on completeness and quality of their data and the level of action taken.
To score an A, a city must have a city-wide emissions inventory, have set an emissions reduction target, published a climate action plan and have completed a climate adaptation plan climate to demonstrate how it will tackle climate hazards now and in the future among other actions.
Analysis has shown that on average cities on the A List are taking more than three times as many climate actions as non-A List cities.
This represents five times as many actions to cut emissions and curb future warming, and twice as many to adapt to current climate hazards, from flooding to extreme heatwaves.
As for Coventry, the Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme was launched to support businesses with fewer than 250 employees who want to save money on eneregy, waste and water bills and maximise low carbon opportunities.
The city provides grants and free energy and resource efficiency audits to help identify where resource savings can be made, and low carbon product development. So far, the programme has awarded £1.5m in grants to 73 SME, seen CO2 savings of 11,600 tonnes, created 60 new jobs, and provided 88 SMEs with nonfinancial support.
Other environmentally friendly projects underway in the city is the battery technology behind the Very Light Railway project, and the introduction of 10 electric buses on the city’s streets by April 2020.
Kyra Appleby, global director of cities, states and regions at CDP said: “Climate science leaves no doubt that global emissions must be halved by 2030 to limit the effects of the global climate crisis.
“Cities play a crucial role in meeting this challenge: covering just 2% of the earth’s surface, they are the source of 70% of emissions.
“These 105 cities are setting an example for the level of transparency and action we need from cities worldwide.
“We call on cities across the globe to share their climate actions and strategies through the CDP-ICLEI Unified Reporting System, and work to join the ranks of the A List.”
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member, for jobs and regeneration at Coventry City Council, said: “This is really encouraging news for the city especially as the council and other organisations are absolutely committed to addressing all aspects of climate change.
“We know how important it is to be clear on the challenges we face and the steps we need to take to reduce carbon emissions in the city.
“Key initiatives include the green business programme which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), where we are helping businesses to reduce their impact on the environment through funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy powered solutions.
“Other major projects include our electric vehicle charging infrastructure, putting us second with the most amount of EV chargers of all UK cities outside of London and the launch of the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) later this year.
“Our approach is addressing climate change in a way that has the backing of the community and business, although we know we have lots more to do. It is also important that we learn from the work of other cities too.”