Last night Bolton Council’s cabinet officially adopted an ambitious climate change strategy that aims to make council operations net zero carbon by 2030.
The wide-ranging plan also sets out how the council will work with other organisations in Bolton to address climate change.
In 2019, Bolton Council declared a climate emergency and committed to play its part in tackling climate change, with this new strategy setting out its plans.
Development of the strategy was led by the Bolton Vision Partnership, which brings together organisations across Bolton including Bolton at Home, Bolton University, Bolton CCG, Bolton Community and Voluntary Sector, Bolton College, NHS Bolton Foundation Trust and the council.
Measures set out in the strategy include:
- Enhancing green space and planting more street trees
- A shift towards more sustainable transport and encouragement of more walking and cycling
- Reducing carbon emissions across our buildings and our fleet
- Ensuring new developments take climate change targets into account
- Sustainable waste management
- Promoting skills to boost the green economy
- Supporting the voluntary and community sector and our volunteer networks to act on climate change.
Responses to Bolton’s Big Climate Conversation, a consultation held earlier this year, helped to guide the plan.
Eighty-four percent of people responding to the consultation said they are worried about climate change and 64% are more worried this year than last.
It also revealed that Bolton residents are keen to see action on improving the environment more broadly.
Among the popular ideas was to plant more trees, rewild areas and improve green spaces to make them better for wildlife, reduce the risk from floods and help improve air quality.
Progress against the plan will be provided through published updates.
Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Cllr Adele Warren, said:
“This council is committed to tackling climate change and making our borough a cleaner and greener place to live.
“We will do this through a strategy that is fair, robust and accountable.
“But climate change is everyone’s responsibility, which is why we have worked with the Bolton Vision Partnership to create this plan.
“It is also why we held Bolton’s Big Climate Conversation so we could understand the concerns of local residents and reflect them in this strategy.”
Jon Lord, Group Chief Executive Officer of Bolton at Home, one of the Bolton Vision partners, said: “Bolton at Home has been a full partner in the strategy and will be working with others to ensure it’s delivered.
“Part of our commitment has been the ongoing development of Greenworks at Trinity Retail Park, and we also have plans for how we can reduce the carbon impact of our homes.”
Bolton’s climate change strategy 2021-2030 can be viewed online. Read the short summary version or full strategy.