Taking action on climate change in High Peak

Published on 12 October 2021

In November the eyes of the world will be on the UK when it hosts COP26 - the United Nations climate change conference - and here in the High Peak the Borough Council is working to support everyone who lives and works locally to do their bit to help.

When it declared a climate emergency, the Council backed plans for the Borough to be carbon neutral by 2030.

In July this year, it published an action plan setting out how it will achieve the net zero target for its own emissions by 2030 and listing the key areas of focus for 2021/22.

But this is not a target the Council alone can achieve and work is already underway, in partnership with working with others, to set out how it intends to help the whole High Peak achieve this target.

Councillor Jean Todd, Executive Councillor for Climate Change, Environment and Community Safety, said: "Climate change affects everybody so it needs every one of us to work together to bring about changes to address the impacts and create sustainable future for all of us.

"The headlines can be daunting and we understand that for some people it can be difficult to know what they can do that will make a difference. That's why the team at the Council is working closely with residents, businesses, organisations and groups across the Borough to pull together a clear plan offering guidance, help and support.

"Key to that is knowing what our local communities think about climate change, hearing their views on what they think needs to happen, and learning from experts and organisations that are already delivering projects and schemes in the High Peak.

"I'm pleased to be able to report that this work in well underway and we'll be sharing more details in the coming months."

As part of this work, the Council engaged Future Focus Research to carry out telephone interviews with a representative sample of 500 High Peak residents over the summer to gauge local attitudes to climate change.

Their responses have helped inform the development of the Borough-wide plan which will be published later this year.

Councillor Todd added: "The time for action is now and I want to reassure people that there is a huge amount of work taking place which I'm looking forward to sharing soon.

"For now, I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part in the attitude survey and all those individuals, groups and organisations that are working with us to help us secure a better future for all of us.

"We are also seeking to increase the expertise available within the Council by recruiting a climate change and biodiversity officer. More details about the post are available on our website and the closing date for applications is 20 October."

You can read the Council's action plan, and more about climate change, at www.highpeak.gov.uk/ClimateChange

There's more information about the climate change and biodiversity officer role at www.highpeak.gov.uk/article/6841/Climate-Change-and-Biodiversity-Officer where you can also apply online.