Bridlington residents urged to do their part in tackling climate change
People in Bridlington and the East Riding are being urged to do their bit to help clamp down on climate change.
People in Bridlington and the East Riding are being urged to do their bit to help clamp down on climate change.
We told you yesterday that the County Council declared a climate emergency after two failed attempts in the past.
The authority will now develop a full strategy within 12 months and will work with schools and businesses to cut emission.
East Riding of Yorkshire Councillor Andy Walker, who represents Bridlington South, said:
"I think it's really important. A climate emergency declaration is so important because it focusses all the conversations on the problems and what we can do about it. I've been trying to get this declared since the day I was elected.
"It does affect residents how the council reacts. It's not just things like changing the street lamps to LED and saving a bit of power or starting to buy electric vehicles instead of diesel, it's about starting the conversations.
"It's a good way of focussing the resident's thoughts on the climate emergency that we're all in. It also means that people listen more when we're talking about the green economy and starting to rebuild economies with a green focus.
"We can all do our bit. If you can make short journeys, perhaps walk or cycle, but also change your diet as you don't have to stop eating meat but perhaps you could reduce meat and dairy, and perhaps you could travel less.
"The biggest thing that you can do is ask your children because the changes are that your children know more about climate change than most adults. They've been calling for a climate emergency declaration for years so the chances are, they are ahead of you.
"We can do the good stuff. We can reduce our energy useable as a council, we can buy electric vehicles instead of diesel but we have to stop doing the bad things too. We have to stop the use of fossil fuels and we should be investing more in green industry."