Local Authority climate emergency declarations came thick and fast in 2019, especially following the UK’s world famous declaration in May. The result is 50 million people in the UK living under a climate emergency, accounting for roughly 75% of the population. City of Bristol were the first local authority to declare in November 2018. Since then 263 out of 383 local authorities have made the declaration, with Ceredigion the most recent. These are the local authorities based in the West Midlands:
- Birmingham – 11 June 2019
- City of Wolverhampton District – 17 July 2019
- Dudley – yet to declare
- Cannock Chase District – 17 July 2019
- Bromsgrove District – 24 July 2019
- Sandwell – yet to declare
- Solihull – yet to declare
- Telford and Wrekin – 25 July 2019
- Walsall – 16 September 2019
- Coventry – 18 June 2019
- Warwick District – 26 June 2019
- North Warwickshire District – yet to declare
- Stratford-on-Avon District – 15 July 2019
- Herefordshire – 8 March 2019
- Shropshire – 16 May 2019
- Stafford District – 23 July 2019
- Staffordshire Moorlands District – 10 July 2019
- South Staffordshire District – 10 September 2019
- East Staffordshire District – yet to declare
- City of Stoke-on-Trent – 4 July 2019
- Worcester District – 16 July 2019
Many declared during the Summer of 2019, which saw record temperatures 1.2 °C above the long-term average and was the 7th wettest since 1910. While declaring a climate emergency acknowledges the situation, there is no requirement to act or enforce low emission policies. Cenex is interested to understand what each of these Local Authorities has done both prior to and following their declarations in order to reach Net Zero and is ready to reduce emissions in the Transport sector. The transport sector remains the largest contributor of greenhouse gases, responsible for 28% of all domestic emissions in the UK. View full artcile from SWM members Cenex here
