With optimism and confidence
Borough: Council appoints Climate Partnership leader
The Royal Borough has appointed a new executive chairman for its Climate Partnership to help tackle climate change.
Barnaby Briggs, who has extensive experience in the conservation, energy and charity sectors, has been appointed by the partnership’s board.
The partnership will be a Community Interest Company, separate from the council itself, and comprises of a board featuring community, public and private sector representatives initially serving for 12 months.
It is hoped the board will be able to share knowledge and expertise to assist with the council’s environment and climate strategy, including its aim to reach a net-zero emissions target by 2050.
Mr Briggs is currently chairman of the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust and a management consultant helping corporations improve their social and environmental performance.
His roles have included working at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds for six years, where he was the energy and transport policy officer and
presented its report to the Kyoto convention in 1997 outlining a correlation between global warming and changes in the behaviour of wildlife.
Speaking of his appointment, Barnaby said: “It is a privilege to be appointed executive chair of the borough’s Climate Partnership.
“The exciting thing about the partnership is it will focus on action, it creates a way for the community to have their say and will build on the expertise of the many people across the borough, who know their communities best. It aims to bring about meaningful changes.
“In my experience of working on the realities of sustainable development, this level of commitment and leadership is rare - but essential to deliver real change.
“I am hugely optimistic that we can act, catalyse others to act and help make the changes needed to make to reduce our collective impact on the environment, but we need to work together.
“If you look around the borough, there are lots of people who have an interest in environmental and climate improvement who all want to help. Harnessing that passion to help make changes is what the partnership is all about.”
Councillor Donna Stimson, cabinet member for climate action and sustainability and a member of the board, added: “Having someone like Barnaby leading it, with his wealth of experience, fills me with confidence that we are in a strong position to take the partnership forward and encourage more individuals, organisations and businesses to join and work together collectively to meet our goals.
“The climate crisis is everyone’s problem, and it is up to each of us to do what we can to make a difference.
“The Climate Partnership is an exciting step forward that can accelerate our collective impact, and I urge anyone with an interest in climate and the environment to join.”
Further information on how to get involved will be announced in due course.