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Swale council set to discuss Climate and Ecological Emergency Plan

07:40, 22 April 2020

updated: 08:15, 22 April 2020

A plan for how the climate and ecological emergency will be dealt with by one Kent council is expected to be signed off.

Swale council will discuss its Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan at tonight's cabinet meeting.

Swale council cabinet member for environment, Cllr Tim Valentine (Green). Picture: Swale council
Swale council cabinet member for environment, Cllr Tim Valentine (Green). Picture: Swale council

If approved, the 48-page document will outline how the council will deliver on its promise to make its work carbon neutral by 2025, followed by the borough in 2030.

It will focus on transport, air quality, buildings, ecology and biodiversity, resource consumption and waste.

The decision whether to approve the action plan will be made on Earth Day, an annual event supporting environmental protection.

Cabinet member for environment, Cllr Tim Valentine (Green), said: “If approved, the Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan will give us a clear path forward to lobby for powers, resources and funding from the government to help us reach our targets.

We declared a climate emergency last year and committed to draw up an action plan that would take us towards our goal of making our own operations carbon neutral by 2025, and the borough by 2030.

The council is going to discuss its Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan this evening
The council is going to discuss its Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan this evening

“The action plan outlines how we will provide leadership, engage with businesses, organisations and residents, and improve the energy efficiency of our transport system, housing and council properties.

“It also outlines how we will work to safeguard our wild places, ancient woodlands and hedgerows.

“Since we took office last year, we have planted 2,500 trees, had our Air Quality Action Plan approved by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and plan to replace our current fleet with new electric vehicles later this year.

“We are committed to reaching our targets but cannot do it alone, and will look to work closely with our partners, Kent County Council, businesses, schools and local community groups to help us deliver the actions in the plan.”

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