High Peak comes together to tackle climate change

Around 50 people from groups and organisations with an interest in responding to the climate emergency took part in a summit recently to help identify and prioritise action areas for the High Peak.

Since declaring a climate emergency last Autumn, High Peak Borough Council has been working on the steps it needs to take to respond to the challenge.

The networking event, at New Mills Town Hall, was an early opportunity for individuals and groups to come together to raise issues that the Council should be considering as part of the response, and share their ideas and suggestions, as well as to identify any particular expertise that partners can offer.

Councillor Jean Todd, Executive Councillor for Climate Change, Environment and Community Safety, said: "Addressing climate change is the biggest challenge we all face so it was great to see so many people coming together as we begin the process of drawing up a local plan of action for the High Peak.

"I'd like to thank everyone who gave their time to share their ideas and expertise and to make connections with other individuals and groups who all share our desire to work together to mitigate the impact of climate change on our communities.

"This was a chance to check that the areas the Council is already focussing on are the right ones and to identify any gaps. The information and ideas we gathered at the event will now inform the work of the Working Group we've established and tasked with drawing up an effective, achievable and costed action plan to help us meet our target of a carbon neutral borough by 2030."

Leader of the Council, Councillor Anthony Mckeown, said: "It was great to see that across the High Peak there are some highly skilled groups and individuals who are willing to give their time to tackle the significant challenges raised by climate change.

"As a Council with Cooperative aims, we want to harness this enthusiasm because whatever plan we develop will only be effective if it is supported by and engaged with by local residents and this network of groups and individuals across the Borough can only help towards that end."