Coun Doug Hine, Mayor of Kidderminster, writes for the Standard.
THIS JUNE I was pleased to support SustFest Wyre Forest.
This was a month-long festival of events around the theme of Climate Change and protection of nature.
There was a time when just scientists talked about Climate Change. Now, the changes are obvious. Glaciers are retreating, and extreme weather events – heatwaves, flooding, storms, etc – are taking place more frequently.
People across the World are affected and the challenge for every nation and every community is to act – or else future impacts will be worse. Some people say that we are insignificant on a World scale, but ‘every little helps’. And the changes we make bring local benefits, too.
Kidderminster Town Council, other councils, businesses and other organisations have objectives to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
They can do this by reusing and recycling materials, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and becoming more energy efficient with the installation of solar panels, domestic batteries, heat pumps and improved insulation. Individual households and housing providers can make these changes, too – there are loans available for many of these measures and they will reduce your household bills.
We should also cherish, protect, and extend nature. Trees, meadows and lakes are well-known moderators of heat, for example. Plus, ‘getting into’ nature provides physical and mental health benefits.
Government is supporting improved public transport and, in conjunction with decent local walking and wheeling routes, we can reduce vehicle pollution and improve health in this area, too.
There will always be extreme weather events, but by taking action – locally and globally – the frequency can be reduced.
Also important is that local authorities and government are prepared, with plans, for possible emergencies, to ensure people, property and nature are protected.
