Andrew Thomas: Climate change is our future's biggest challenge

World leaders are due to gather in Glasgow next month to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, when the UK hosts the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

But it’s good to know that, locally, action is already being taken.

In February 2019 South Lakeland District Council declared a climate emergency, its Council Plan committing the council to ‘working to achieve a carbon-neutral South Lakeland’.

Kendal Town Council - which had also declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 - set up the UK’s first Citizens’ Jury at a town level to answer the question: ‘What should Kendal do about climate change?’

A series of recommendations - including providing more allotments, reducing food waste and improving the local public transport system - were created and the town council and partners are working to try to implement them.

Meanwhile the Lake District National Park Authority and partners are looking at ways to help businesses, residents and visitors lower their carbon footprints through The Low Carbon Lake District initiative. Projects already started include a green grants scheme, electric car charging points being installed and solar panels installed at Ferry Nab car park.

Ambleside Action for a Future is hosting a Climate Action Day today (Thursday), with a range of environmental specialists giving free advice to companies on how to decarbonise their business and guidance for residents, including information about installing solar PV panels on their roof and an offer of a free home heat loss survey.

At Kendal the Aynam Road Tree Preservation Project is seeking volunteers to house cuttings from trees due to be removed to build a flood defence wall, to help create an urban forest.

So, there is plenty of good work going on locally and it reminds us we should all be trying to play our part in reducing emissions and seeking a greener, more sustainable world.