WORCESTERSHIRE’S Liberal Democrats kicked off their county council election campaign with a pledge to declare a climate emergency and a commitment to more spending on green infrastructure.
Among the plans being tabled is a focus on turning all parts of County Hall into a carbon neutral enterprise by 2030.
The party has pledged to increase recycling rates to match the best councils in the country, improve the cycling and walking infrastructure, increase the biodiversity of Worcestershire by working with residents and community groups, and fight unsustainable development.
Coun Dan Boatright, the party’s candidate for Pershore, said: “I have been surprised by the limited focus our local councils have shown when addressing climate change. Whilst producing glossy ‘Green Plans’ and publicly declaring commitments to tackle climate change, our local area has seen a continued increase in development which is neither carbon neutral, nor sustainable.
“The council must change. We have a great range of experts leading our campaign and we are excited at the prospect of being elected to county to make a significant.
“I am a Geography and Geology teacher and have been teaching climate change for years, as well as sitting on national committees on how to reduce our impact on the climate.
“We have doctors, health care professionals, town planners, financial specialists and business owners running as candidates across the county, all with expertise that can help us bring the county’s carbon emissions down.”
