This week, the Council’s Carbon Neutral Programme was voted through at the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee, and the Policy & Resources Committee. Starting this work whilst in administration, and continuing to work cross-party at committee and the Carbon Neutral Working Group, Labour take pride in seeing this gain support, and are clear on the actions we must take to combat the climate crisis.

At Policy & Resources Committee, Labour’s environment, sustainability & transport spokesperson, Councillor Gary Wilkinson said:

The aim of the 2030 Carbon Neutral Programme is to help the city address the climate crisis and transition to carbon neutrality by 2030.

As a council we were among the first to declare a climate emergency. The city’s first Climate Assembly gave residents across our city the chance to have their say on how we reach carbon neutrality within the decade.

The Brighton & Hove Climate Assembly strongly supported taking action to reduce transport-related carbon emissions, recognising that wide-ranging changes to the way we travel will be necessary, as well as challenging.

This programme is an extremely important contribution to how Brighton and Hove reaches a net zero target and I hope it gives impetus to us to take bold action to reduce our emissions.

Let us be in no doubt, we must take action now. Climate change is an urgent issue and we are already taking a leading role, challenging ourselves and others to take steps towards becoming carbon neutral. Our aims are ambitious, and we will need to work closely with all our partners on a shared vision to be successful.

To be successful, the programme will require the participation and coordination of many stakeholders and partners including businesses. As a council we recognise that our communities and businesses are fundamental to delivering this programme.

The 2030 Carbon Neutral Programme will be a huge step in progressing the work done to date and will set the direction for the council to fulfil its ambition to become a carbon neutral city.

Councillor Gary Wilkinson