CALLS FOR ‘A GREEN NEW DEAL’ AS CITY RECOVERS
CAMPAIGNERS are calling for a “green new deal” to be at the heart of Glasgow’s economic recovery plan from the coronavirus crisis.
Glasgow Labour For A Green New Deal has called for a healthier, greener and fairer city to be the goal when rebuilding the economy.
Glasgow City Council has put in place temporary changes to introduce another 15 miles of road space for walking and cycling – and the group would like to see more permanent changes made.
Kim Bonnar and Finn Beyts, of Glasgow Labour For A Green New deal, said poorer areas have been disadvantaged further as a result of climate change.
Ms Bonnar said: “Households in the richest areas create more CO2 emissions due to higher energy consumption and car ownership than poorer areas.
“Yet it’s people living in poorer areas who experience the brunt of the negative effects.
“People in these areas are more likely to experience fuel poverty, have worse access to transport and cycling infrastructure and pay exorbitant fares for what transport is available.”
The group is calling for more cycling infrastructure in communities across the city as well as in the city centre.
Mr Beyts said he welcomed the recent changes and called for them to be long -asting.
He added: “By delivering a Green New Deal that addresses both the climate and the public health crises directly and together, we believe Glasgow can be a healthier, greener and fairer city.
“This means job creation, community wealth building and public ownership.
“By expanding cycling infrastructure citywide, for example, Glasgow could replicate other cities by shutting major roads to cars, encouraging cycling and avoiding a return to high pollution levels.
“Recent announcements such as parking bay suspensions in the city centre are welcome, but won’t deliver the change required.
“We need long-lasting infrastructure, and areas with historical underinvestment should be targeted first.
“The transition, which should also be a Just Transition, has the potential to create good jobs and improve health.”
Glasgow City Council has stated a sustainable city is a key priority for the future economy.
Plans for a Glasgow Metro are progressing and a £250 million tranche of City Deal funding has been released to boost projects as the city emerges from lockdown.
Writing in the Glasgow Times earlier this month, council leader Susan Aitken said: “In Glasgow, our economic policies focus on championing Fair Work, expanding opportunities to disadvantaged communities and equalising our young people’s life chances.
“Post-lockdown, we must grasp the opportunity to not only push that work further but to reimagine and rebuild our city economy as something more sustainable and inclusive.”
Ms Aitken added: “Our city urbanist, Professor Brian Evans, is advising on how these measures can be as accessible and attractive as possible.
“But I believe we are also laying the foundations for Glasgow’s longer-term recovery and renewal, a healthier, more prosperous city where people have priority.”
Glasgow will host the UN climate conference next year.