We attended a special climate change event today at GRIDSERVE Electric Forecourt in Braintree, Essex ahead of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.
Representatives of the Electric Vehicle Drivers’ Associations are heading to COP26 to support the call for much faster transport decarbonisation globally fuelled by renewable energy and today their route stopped at GRIDSERVE in Braintree.
Jo Gay, our new head of climate change and Cllr Carole Mulroney, cabinet member for environment, culture, tourism and planning, were also in attendance to support and highlight our commitment to climate change as we continue our drive to be carbon neutral by 2030.
Jo Gay, our first ever Head of Climate Change, is now leading a team working with stakeholders, partners and businesses, ensuring that both our own activities and our relationships across the Borough promote and deliver a net zero future.
Jo said: “The council has an important role to play in leading climate change action within Southend-on-Sea and work is ongoing to deliver the commitments we made as part of the Climate Emergency declaration in 2019.
“My team and I will aim to deliver climate related projects across a range of areas including housing, biodiversity, open spaces, seafront, waste and recycling and transport, as well as lead important reviews of Council policies to ensure sustainability is embedded.
Cllr Mulroney recorded a short video at today’s event to highlight the council’s continued commitment to climate change and to call on world leaders to make ‘the most impactful of pledges’.
Cllr Mulroney said: “COP26 is being used as a springboard for more action and we would call on world leaders to make the most impactful of pledges. It is important that finance is available for teams on the ground to enable significant changes to limit warming. Working towards a green economy and ensuring that capital is available will allow our work to take a low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive pathway.
“Opportunities are arising quickly and technologies are becoming available that we look forward to taking up and enjoying a proactive overreactive approach to climate adaptation and mitigation. Southend as a local authority call on the UK Government to give us the tools in the form of legislation and funding, to do the job.”
For more information on how the council is playing a part in climate change action and what you can do to help, visit our COP26 web pages.