Last night a Lib Dem amendment was unanimously carried, with Conservative backing, calling for the full financial implications of the Council’s Climate Change Strategy to be annually reviewed. It also called for the progress of the strategy to be examined by the Environment Scrutiny Panel.
The strategy itself talks of the need for carbon dioxide reduction schemes, waste minimisation, and utilising food waste for producing heat and power; all themes the Lib Dems have long been campaigning for. The opinions of the public, environmental groups, and councillors had been fully taken into account.
Current scientific thinking suggests that the actions we take today will not take effect until 2040. Unfortunately, the damage we have caused will ultimately affect us in the near future. So it s paramount that we clean-up our act now, literally for the future of our species.
Cllr Glenn Goodall, Lib Dem environment spokesperson, said:
“Officers have worked hard to produce this impressive strategy which seeks to address the many challenges of climate change.
"But in times of economic uncertainty, it would be so easy to sweep the environmental agenda to one side.
“The Lib Dem proposal ensures cross-party commitment to continual funding.
“This strategy should be the first port of call for the Council when considering the impact of future policies, no matter the subject.”
Cllr Gareth Epps, Lib Dem PPC Reading East and Group leader welcomed the strategy:
“In Parliament Lib Dems MPs campaigned to strengthen the Climate Change Act, and succeeded in part in getting Labour Ministers to make targets tougher.
"It’s vitally important in Reading now that we make sure our road out of recession is a green road, and we use every opportunity to create new jobs that help protect the environment.”
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