Call for action – not just words

The COP26 summit is underway in Glasgow as world leaders meet to tackle the global climate crisis. Figures and politicians in the Royal Borough have shared their thoughts about what they want to see result from the landmark summit at a local level.

Royal Borough figures have expressed a desire for change at a local level in light of the ongoing COP26 summit in Glasgow this month.

The UK is hosting the landmark event until November 12 as world leaders meet in the Scottish city to work out how to combat the climate emergency.

Dave Scarbrough set up the RBWM Climate Community group to address the issue in the borough and encourage people to reduce their footprint.

Under the brand ‘COPtober’, he and other green groups across

Windsor and Maidenhead have joined forces to host a series of local green events alongside COP26.

“It is good that our leaders have got together and are making some commitments, but the important thing is not just words – but actions,” Dave said.

He added that he was disappointed the COP26 agenda does not discuss people’s diets, with the food we eat contributing significantly to the world’s emissions.

“The biggest thing I am hoping [from COP26] is that there is some awareness amongst everyone that we need action, and we can all make a contribution,” said Dave.

More emphasis is on central Government to help local councils make a difference to the climate in their areas, he added, while businesses should also be educated about how to grow a green economy.

Councillor Joshua Reynolds (Lib Dem, Furze Platt) said that the climate should be considered within ‘everything that we do’.

“It is all good standing up and making speeches, but what we need to see coming from that is change,” he said.

Cllr Reynolds raised concerns over the eco-friendly nature of some building developments across Maidenhead, and thinks the Government need to tighten up on green planning policies.

He also warned the council not to contradict themselves following COP26 by going through with developments on prominent green sites such as Maidenhead Golf Course.

Cllr Wisdom Da Costa (WWRA, Clewer and Dedworth West) thinks the borough should do three things if ‘it is serious about tackling climate change’ following COP26.

He said that it should ‘tear up’ its recently-adopted corporate plan and ‘start again’, putting more emphasis on the climate.

The authority should upgrade its infrastructure to make it greener, while Cllr Da Costa also called on the council to create a climatefocused ‘supplementary planning document’.

This would support the Borough Local Plan and ensure future developments do not hinder climate targets.

Cllr Da Costa said. “The council need to pull their finger out. It is down to us now – the politicians are not listening.”

The council’s lead member for climate change, Cllr Donna Stimson (Con, St Mary’s), is in Glasgow for the summit, and said that sustainability will always ‘come first’ in the borough.

She added that the mood feels better in Scotland than the previous summit in Madrid, with Government’s ‘coming to the table’ and recognising the climate problem.

Cllr Stimson also claimed that the creation of the upcoming Royal Borough ‘climate partnership’ will help ensure the council can tackle the emergency.

This partnership – agreed at cabinet in September – will bring together organisations to oversee the delivery of the council’s Environment and Climate Strategy.

Cllr Stimson said: “It is not about what we say, it is about what we do. There is no point in tearing it [the corporate plan] up and starting again, they are just words. I am interested in climate change and what we do.

“Sustainability is a new thing – it was not something that was in our plans three or four years ago when some previous developments started coming forward.

“Therefore it is something we have had to focus on and it should be put first with developments.”