Council shortlisted for prestigious award

Bath & North East Somerset Council has been shortlisted for a prestigious award, for providing ‘Leadership in responding to the Climate Emergency’.

The annual MJ Local Government Achievement Awards recognise best practice amongst local authorities across the country.

Councillor Sarah Warren, joint cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Neighbourhood Services said: “I’m delighted we’ve been shortlisted for this major award. Since we declared a Climate Emergency in March 2019, we’ve acted quickly to provide leadership to enable Bath and North East Somerset to meet the challenging target of becoming carbon neutral within a decade. 

“From cutting energy consumption, to promoting grassland habitat diversity and the introduction of low traffic neighbourhoods, tackling the Climate Emergency shapes everything we do and we’re working hard with local communities and our partners to build momentum, drive innovation and embed change.”

The impact of COVID-19 has brought the need to lead the district towards a more resilient future even more sharply into focus. During lockdown Councillor Warren hosted a series of Climate Conversations with local community members involved in activities that contribute towards the carbon neutral aim. The ideas discussed are now being built on in a series of Green Renewal webinars focussing on opportunities for tackling the Climate and Nature Emergency with a green economic and community recovery from COVID-19.

The council is also calling on the government for a New Deal for Green Skills and Growth.  Councillor Dine Romero, council Leader, said: “It’s essential that the government’s recently announced stimulus package includes funding to develop green sector skills and encourage green growth. Our COVID-19 recovery presents us with a once in a lifetime opportunity to tackle the Climate Emergency by investing in a green future.  We must grab that opportunity.

“While I’m delighted that we’ve been recognised by the MJ Awards for providing leadership in responding to the Climate Emergency, there is still much more work to do.”

The winners of the MJ Local Government Achievement Awards will be announced at a virtual ceremony in October.