Working hard to meet climate challenge

CLIMATE change is the greatest challenge facing our generation.

Global temperatures have already risen by one degree, leading to more extreme weather events.

The Pope has issued an urgent exhortation, stating ‘every family ought to realize that the future of their children is at stake’.

In May 2019, Cheshire East Council set out its vision to be carbon neutral by 2025, one of the most ambitious targets in the country.

The council then published a carbon neutral action plan setting out in detail how this would be achieved.

Regular reports have been discussed at the environment and communities committee and the council remains on track to meet its challenging target.

Much of the progress has been through reducing travel (more remote working), using low energy lightbulbs (in offices and street lamps) and reducing energy use in buildings (better insulation).

There have also been some eye-catching changes including heat pumps installed at Macclesfield Town Hall, two dual-fuelled hydrogen-diesel bin waggons with hydrogen generated on site from solar panels and rainwater, over 50,000 trees planted on council land and the awardwinning repair of a road bridge near Knutsford using battery-powered plant and electric vehicles.

To find out more visit www.cheshireeast.gov. uk and search on ‘Carbon Neutral’.

But the council itself only accounts for 1 per cent of the carbon emissions of the borough of Cheshire East.

So in October 2021 the council adopted the UK100 Pledge, committing the council to work to make the entire borough carbon neutral by 2045.

Over the last two years I have co-chaired the Cheshire and Warrington Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Commission which has identified projects that will help deliver the

2045 target.

Retrofitting insulation and putting clean energy into houses is a key project.

It is surprisingly easy, cheap and effective to install loft insulation, which can be bought from DIY shops and then rolled out across a loft.