Climate Change Locally
| Published: 2nd April 2008 09:02 |
On 3 April, the Environment and Corporate, Community and External Affairs Scrutiny panels met to discuss:
· Evidence on local climate change issues and possible responses
· A report on the findings of a recent consultation exercise on air quality and climate change
· The draft Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan for Reading
· A proposal for the formation of a climate challenge partnership of key organisations to work together to tackle climate change.
In addition to presentations by and on behalf of Reading Borough Council, two external experts presented evidence to panels members.
Professor Nigel Arnell, Director of the Walker Institute for Climate Science at the University of Reading, spoke on 'Climate change - Impacts and Implications'
George Marshall, Director of the Climate Outreach and Information Network gave a talk entitled 'Committing to action - Why bother?'
Click twice on the button to activate video: Climate change in UK.
Steve Waite, Reading's Lead councillor for Environment and Consumer Affairs, said: "We have known about climate change for many years but now science is predicting with some accuracy the likely implications. It's clear that we can no longer ignore the stark warnings and the threat to the health and well being of millions of people, as well as the huge reduction in bio-diversity across the globe.
"Of course this will have implications not just for our local wildlife but our economy and future prosperity. I believe that we have a responsibility to act as swiftly as possible to tackle this crisis and this important meeting will set the agenda for the foreseeable future."
Councillor Bet Tickner, chair of the Environment Scrutiny panel, said: "Climate change is happening right now and will present our grandchildren with huge problems unless we act now. By taking action locally we can achieve much - most families and businesses can save substantially on their energy use - but better still, we thereby give a signal to world leaders that we want them to take action." Although this is a Reading Borough Council scrutiny meeting, members of the public are welcome to attend - places are strictly limited due to the presence of an invited audience.
If people are interested in coming along to the Climate Change Scrutiny event to listen to the panel's discussions, please contact the sustainability team on 0118 939 0159 or email climate.change@reading.gov.uk
Scrutiny panels are part of the Council's decision-making process and one of their tasks is to make recommendations, to help inform policy development and implementation.
This event was held jointly between the Environment Scrutiny Panel and the Corporate, Community and External Affairs Scrutiny panel.
What do you think?
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Posts: 45At 00:05 on 3rd April 2008, Marton Viragh responded:
Can you tell me evidence on local climate change please?
