Bucks Council to host event at COP26
The council will be hosting a transport and climate event via live stream to world leaders
Buckinghamshire Council, in partnership with a group of other local businesses and organisations, is hosting a transport and climate event today (10 November) as part of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) which is currently underway in Glasgow.
The event with Bucks Council will take place from 11.15am and will be live-streamed from Silverstone to delegates in Glasgow.
The annual conference is a significant global event with nations from around the world gathering to tackle issues related to climate change.
Buck Council and its event partners were among five successful applicants in the South East to be awarded funding to host a COP26 Regional Roadshow.
‘Green Wheels in Motion’ will focus on sustainable transport solutions, showcasing a range of technologies and initiatives being developed and used in Buckinghamshire to decarbonise transport.
It will take place at the Silverstone Enterprise Zone at event partner, The Lunaz Group’s HQ and includes upcycling work by the Lunaz Group that converts vehicles such as HGVs and waste collection vehicles to being able to run on electric power.
Robert Bosch Ltd will also be attending and doing online demonstrations and presentations of the latest technologies.
Other event partners include Buckinghamshire Community Energy, Buckinghamshire Business First, Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership, and England’s Economic Heartland.
The council recently agreed its own Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy, which includes a number of actions to reduce carbon emissions by 75 per cent by 2030, and to hit net zero by 2050.
Jilly Jordan, Councillor for Great Brickhill Ward, and Deputy Cabinet Member of Climate Change and Environment explained what the Lunaz Group will be doing to turn Buckinghamshire's bin lorries green:
"What they do is they take an ordinary engine out of a lorry, and they will strip it down, and turn it into an electric engine."
The councillor also highlighted other ways they're looking at making their transport cleaner:
"We are actively involved in installing electrical charging points in our car parks all over Buckinghamshire.
"There's obviously other initiatives going on as well, where by maybe we could install them on pavements, for people who can't install charging points at their homes.
"This is all very much on going, but it is very new, but it is something we are looking at in Buckinghamshire."
Councillor Peter Strachan, Buckinghamshire’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment said:
"Our local COP26 event promises to be an exciting and fascinating insight into what future greener transport will look like.
"The work being done in Buckinghamshire in this field is ground-breaking and will pave the way for reducing carbon emissions where transport in concerned.
"From trialling innovative wireless electric vehicle charging to adopting our own Climate Change strategy, we are proud of the work we are doing here in Buckinghamshire to tackle the climate crisis head on.
"Do take the time to watch this event, it promises to be well-worth it!"