County starts to address climate emergency

* Encouraged: Llangollen councillor Graham 

Timms who chairs the cross-party group.

The first meeting of a cross-party group responding to Denbighshire County Council’s climate and ecological emergency has been held.

In the summer the council declared a climate and ecological emergency and now a cross-political party group of councillors has met to draw up a plan to address the issue.

The motion passed by Denbighshire included a commitment to make the authority net carbon zero by 2030 at the latest and call on the Welsh and UK governments to provide assistance and resources to enable the Council to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Llangollen councillor Graham Timms, chair of the Climate Change and Ecological Emergency Working Group, said: “I am encouraged by the cross-political party action this working group represents. The public wants to see action to combat climate change and biodiversity decline with many groups already doing great work at the community level.

“This working group will ensure the council continues the good work already taking place, but pushing this agenda further to respond to the climate and ecological emergency Denbighshire, Wales, UK and the world is in.”

Denbighshire County Council made the environment a priority in its current Corporate Plan which was launched in 2017 and so far more than 5,800 trees have been planted while the council has already undertaken work to reduce its carbon emissions.

The council now only uses renewable electricity for its own buildings after switching to a renewable only energy provider for its schools, leisure centres, libraries, council offices and depots.

Electric charging points have been installed for council vehicles at several council buildings while charging points for public use are being installed at the new car park being built on the former post office site in Rhyl.

The council has recently undertaken a study to help identify potential locations for electric charging points for members of the public in existing car parks.

The council has also secured Bee Friendly status from the Welsh Government for its work to protect pollinators and to increase biodiversity in the county.

Cllr Brian Jones, Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “Protecting the environment is very much at the centre of our plans and we have already made some progress.  

"The working group will enhance the work the Council is undertaking in this area and we will also be working with partners across the public, private and third sector to respond to this climate and ecological emergency.”