Councillor, 23, takes on climate change portfolio
ONE of the youngest councillors in the Staffordshire Moorlands has been appointed to take charge and oversee climate change policies in the district.
A new position in the ruling cabinet at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has been created after a climate emergency was declared by members of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council who unanimously voted to go ahead with the project in July.
The council agreed to set up a working group to look at making the district, carbon neutral by 2030.
The appointement also comes after the Post & Times reported last month that an assessment of air quality in the town has been found to exceed the National Air Quality Standards in Leek and Cellarhead.
SMDC leader Councillor Sybil Ralphs, has announced that Councillor Joe Porter will take on the role which involves trying to make the Staffordshire Moorlands carbon neutral. This will require a wide-ranging review of policies and strategies.
Aged 23, Councillor Porter will be the youngest councillor to be appointed to a cabinet position on the district council.
He said: “I am completely shocked to be offered the position, but I am absolutely delighted to be appointed as cabinet member for climate change. I would like to thank Councillor Ralphs for this great opportunity. This is an extremely important issue that is very close to my heart. I am determined to get stuck in with turning our passionate words on climate change into robust, meaningful actions to leave our environment in a better state than we inherited it.
“We look forward to working with partners across the district to make the Staffordshire Moorlands carbon neutral by 2030. We will also lobby the Government to take action nationally and internationally and work with them locally to tackle Climate Change.
“The establishment of a cross-party Climate Change Working Group will enable us to develop a Carbon Neutrality and Climate Resilience Plan to draw on wider expertise to assist us in our investigative work, setting priorities and delivering a carbon neutral Staffordshire Moorlands.
“We must consider the impact of the decisions we make on climate change and the environment. This will require a wide-ranging review of our policies and strategies.
“The time for action is now. This is an issue that affects every single one of us and my door is always open to new ideas to tackling climate change.”
Ms Ralphs, said: “By its nature, actions within and by the council to tackle climate change will cut across every single cabinet portfolio as they involve all council services. I needed to have someone with a firm and energetic hold of this cross-cutting brief, which otherwise could lack focus. I’m also of the opinion that leadership from young people is proving to be particularly powerful on an issue which is all about future wellbeing.
“I have created a new cabinet member post for climate change, and I have asked Councillor Joe Porter to take up that portfolio. Joe has been interested and heavily involved in the subject of climate change and it’s affects.”