Extinction Rebellion holds protest targeting West Norfolk council meeting

XR wants more action to cut carbon emissions in West Norfolk

Protestors at the demonstration yesterday
Author: Matt SoanesPublished 14th Oct 2022

Climate protestors have held a demonstration outside of a council meeting in West Norfolk to call for more action to reduce carbon emissions.

Extinction Rebellion activists held up banners and lined the stairs of the town hall with books ahead of a Borough Council session yesterday (October 13).

West Norfolk Council currently aims to get to net-zero by 2035, but XR say that goal only covers emissions from council buildings or activities - and not for carbon created across the wider district.

Robert Shippey, one of the XR campaigners said “Councillors going into the meeting seemed stunned by the visuals of all these books lining the stairs.

"This week an IPCC scientist was arrested protesting about government inaction. I hope our councillors start to see how serious this is.”

Jan Smith, one of the demonstrators, said “We showed them the weight of evidence, how can they continue to ignore what is so obvious. 2050 is too late.”

In a statement on its policy on cutting carbon emissions, West Norfolk Council says: "We are committed to reviewing whether we could bring (getting to net-zero) forward further to 2030."

"Our recently adopted climate change strategy and action plan set out our approach to tackling climate change.

"However, we know that addressing climate change is not something that we can do in isolation and our strategy also outlines the role we will play in tackling emissions within our district.

"We want to support people and businesses across west Norfolk so that we can tackle climate change together."

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