UDC declares Climate & Environmental Emergency and commits to Carbon Net Zero 2030 goal

Under Residents for Uttlesford leadership last week Uttlesford District Council has declared a Climate & Environmental Emergency, committed to a Carbon Net Zero 2030 goal, and the delivery of a suite of air quality, biodiversity and carbon reduction initiatives through its ‘ABC for Life’ policy programme.

John Lodge (R4U)John Lodge (R4U)

UDC Council Leader Cllr John Lodge said “We all love where we live and want to protect it. In our manifesto R4U pledged to step up action on green issues and the environment – and we said we’d break down political boundaries and foster cross-party working. We are delivering on those promises. With all-party backing at UDC we have declared a Climate & Environmental Emergency in Uttlesford and committed to a Carbon Net Zero goal by 2030. The development of the supporting policies is underway and is being led by our Environmental and Green Portfolio holder Cllr Louise Pepper.”

Louise Pepper (R4U) Louise Pepper (R4U)

Cllr Louise Pepper, UDC environmental portfolio holder added “The signs are around us every day and time is running out. We are facing a climate and ecological emergency. The International Panel on Climate Change reported that Carbon Dioxide emissions must be cut by 45 per cent by 2030 to keep the global temperature rise below 1.5C this century. We’ll seek to play our part locally through our new ‘ABC for Life’ policy programme. ‘ABC’ stands for the three biggest environmental issues, Air Quality, Biodiversity and Carbon Reduction. We are developing a comprehensive suite of policies to reduce pollution, deliver low energy new homes, vehicle charging infrastructure, ‘rewilding’, tree planting, and many other things. Stay tuned for more details in in the autumn. We also ask that all residents think about the easy and simple choices that they can make every day to play their part.”

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