Climate emergency declared in East Riding
County councillors have backed the recommendations of a panel
Last updated 25th Feb 2021
East Riding of Yorkshire councillors have backed recommendations from its Climate Change review panel, among them declaring an emergency over the state of the environment.
Review panel chair Cllr Mike Medini said their findings inspired him to become vegetarian, as he told members even holding climate change at its current level would require “tremendous work”.
The review panel recommended creating an overarching climate change strategy and employing a dedicated green officer, to oversee efforts to become carbon neutral by 2050.
Yorkshire Party Cllr Andy Walker, behind two failed efforts to get a climate emergency declared since 2019, said the panel’s report was welcome but did not go far enough.
Cllr Walker said:
“Our area emits the largest amount of greenhouse gases outside of London, we’re at severe risks of flooding and we have the fastest eroding coastline in Europe.
“We’re also currently allowing the exploration of fossil fuels in the East Riding, that’s madness.
Council Climate Change portfolioholder, Chris Matthews said:
“So far the counci’s approach while delivering a number of successful projects has been piecemeal, these recommendations will help bring everything together.
“We could do so much more, and we can clearly influence the public and private sector on issues such as transport emissions.”