Mayors demand climate change powers
MAYORS and council leaders from across the UK have joined forces to set out plans for preventing climate change and saving the planet.
They want the Government to give them powers and funding to remove gas boilers from homes, and replace them with energy-efficient heating systems.
Proposals also include creating more electric vehicle charging points in towns and cities across the country, encouraging motorists to ditch traditional petrol and diesel vehicles.
They met in a virtual summit, held online and hosted by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street.
Leaders taking part included Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Tracey Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, and Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region. Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, also took part.
Mr Street said: “Climate change is a global emergency, and we know that every region and city across the world is going to have to play their part in tackling it.”
He added: “Here in the UK, the Government has set out ambitious targets to achieve net zero by 2050, and we want the West Midlands to play its part in that by meeting our net zero target by 2041.”
Mr Street said the West Midlands was already fighting climate change, adding: “Now, alongside other UK leaders, we’re asking ministers to give us the powers and the funding to do more.”
The event was organised by the West Midlands Combined Authority and UK100, a network of local and regional leaders.
It comes in advance of the COP26 conference in Glasgow, where more than 190 world leaders will meet for 12 days.
Top of the agenda at COP26 will be attempts to create a “net zero” world by the middle of the century.
Presenting a united front to the
Government, 32 leaders including Mr Street signed a document calling for a bigger role in helping to fight climate change. They called for:
Funding to ensure new homes use less energy, and to renovate existing properties to make them more energy efficient.
The creation of regional bodies to encourage energy efficiency.
Powers to connect electric vehicle charging networks to the national grid, reducing costs.
Laws setting out a clear target to reverse the decline in species and habitats by 2030.
Ensuring the new UK Infrastructure Bank, which will distribute £12 billion for infrastructure projects, is told to invest in environmentallyfriendly projects.
Laws giving local and regional authorities more powers to fight climate change.