The Coventry Society attended the launch of the City Council’s Climate Change Strategy 2023 – 2030 on Wednesday 15th February. The draft strategy is now open for public consultation.
The launch event took place at the Transport Museum and included presentation by Jim O’Boyle (Cabinet Member for Climate Change), Margot James (chair of the Climate Change Board) and Bret Willers (Head of Climate Change and Sustainability). In addition, there were two external speakers:
Professor Andy Gouldson – who advises the UK’s Infrastructure Bank and Chairs the UK’s Place Based Climate Action Network. He spoke about his assessment of Coventry’s carbon budgets and contribution to climate change with the Zero Carbon Route Map. This document is to be published shortly.
Chris Baines, a BBC presenter experienced in landscape design and a great advocate for environmentally conscious design which promotes biodiversity and wellbeing. He reflected on examples of best practice around the world.
We were also “entertained” by a drama interval produced by Postgraduate students of Warwick University. There was a networking opportunity and workshops on the themes of the Strategy.
Five key areas are covered in the strategy. Each has its own working group and is chaired by different partner organisations across the city. The areas – known as ‘pathways’ include:
- Low emission development – low emissions and new economic opportunities
- Circular development – recycling and reusing our resources
- Nature-based development – protecting our habitat and our city’s wildlife
- Resilient development – coping with the consequences of climate change
- Equitable development – addressing the effects of climate change on vulnerable/low-income families
As part of the consultation, the City Council has organised the following drop in sessions during March and April:
Cannon Park Shopping Centre – 25 March 2023
Stoke Library 10:00 -12:00 – 03 April 2023
Central Library 13:00 – 15:00 – 06 April 2023
Bell Green Library 14:00 – 16:00 – 11 April 2023
Tile Hill Library 14:00 – 16:00 – 13 April 2023
There are more details and opportunities at https://letstalk.coventry.gov.uk/climate-change-strategy
The Climate Change team has agreed to hold a workshop with Coventry Society members in April and we will let members know the arrangements in due course.
The deadline for responses to the consultation on the Climate Change Strategy is 31st May 2023. The City Council hopes to have the final strategy ready by this summer.