An artist on his way to COP26 in a giant metal ball stopped off in Bolton to hear more about the town’s plan to tackle climate change.
Arnd Drossel, from Bolton’s twin town of Paderborn in Germany, is undertaking a 930-mile journey to the Glasgow climate conference in November.
Using a 2-meter wide walkable wire metal ball, he is hoping to raise awareness of climate change and inspire others to make their own individual promises to tackle climate change.
Arriving in Bolton, he received a warm welcome from Mayor Cllr Linda Thomas and the council’s Deputy Leader Cllr Hilary Fairclough.
He was also presented with a copy of the Bolton Climate Change Strategy, which was formally adopted earlier this month and sets out the council’s plan to achieve operations net zero carbon by 2030.
The wide-ranging strategy also sets out how the council will work with other organisations in Bolton to address climate change.
Arnd said: “It’s great that Bolton has a climate change strategy with ambitious targets for 2030 because to protect the earth, it’s necessary that everyone takes action and when everyone takes action together it can be very powerful.
“The sphere symbolises that we are all united around the world and everyone in every village or city can make a promise to protect Mother Earth.
“We will bring these promises to the world leaders at COP26 in Glasgow.
“It doesn’t matter how big or small it is as long as it’s something you can do.”
Cllr Fairclough said:
“We are fully committed to tackling climate change here in Bolton,
“And, like Arnd, we want to encourage everyone to make changes in their day-to-day lives to help protect the environment.
“It was a great opportunity to present him with our Climate Change Strategy which explains our own set of plans and climate commitments.”
Bolton Mayor, Cllr Thomas, said:
“It was a pleasure to meet Arnd to discuss his impressive and thought-provoking journey to the COP26 conference.
“Our two towns have a longstanding connection, and we were delighted to offer him the customary Bolton hospitality.
“I wish him the best of luck for the rest of his historic adventure.”