Council hopefuls urged to make climate a key issue

CAMPAIGNERS are asking all candidates standing in May’s local council elections to put the climate emergency front and centre of their decision-making if they are elected.

The alliance of Calderdale Green New Deal, Calderdale Friends of the Earth, Calderdale Stand Up to Racism, Calderdale Trades Council, and what they say is a growing number of businesses and community groups, is writing to candidates hoping to be elected when the polls close on election day, May 6.

It is calling on all candidates to pledge to take strong action on the climate and ecological emergencies, arguing the election comes at a crucial time as Calderdale Council draws up its Climate Action Plan to set out how the council will cut carbon emissions from buildings, transport, waste and other parts of the economy to meet its target of Net Zero emissions by 2038, set after declaring a climate emergency.

Candidates have been asked to sign up to a pledge “to ensure our council works with local communities to rapidly implement a Climate Action Plan which drastically cuts emissions over the next 10 years, and that the climate and ecological emergency is the top priority in all council actions.”

Dick Dyer, campaigner from Calderdale Green New Deal, said public interest and concern about the climate and ecological emergency is at an all-time high.

“It’s a brave politician who chooses to ignore this. The next few years are absolutely critical in deciding whether we will avert a climate and ecological catastrophe.

“We call on all local candidates to rise to this challenge and commit to taking strong action for all of us,” he said.

One of the businesspeople supporting the campaign, John Ainscough, owner of Blazing Saddles cycle shop in Hebden Bridge, said there was huge potential of strong action generating many green jobs in our area.

“It should also give a boost to local business as consumers shift to buying more locally-produced goods and services,” he said.

Rashida Islam, from Calderdale Stand Up to Racism, said the impacts of the climate and ecological emergency will fall hardest on those already disadvantaged in our society, both locally and globally – and that is often the poorest and people of colour, and everyone had a role to play in tackling the emergency.

“All communities need to be consulted and involved in action to tackle the climate and ecological emergency, particularly those on the frontline of its impacts,” she said.