Green groups in Harrogate have joined forces to increase the pressure on Harrogate Borough Council to tackle climate change.
Harrogate District Climate Action Network represents more than 4,000 residents from 13 groups, including Extinction Rebellion Harrogate, Long Lands Common, the Pinewoods Conservation Group and Zero Carbon Harrogate.
The group is separate to the Harrogate District Climate Coalition, which the council set up at the beginning of the year to bring together councillors as well as green groups and local businesses.
The coalition has been criticised by campaigners for being little more than a talking shop.
The new network has said it will campaign for swift and radical change.
In an open letter to HBC council leader Richard Cooper and cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability, Phil Ireland, the network calls for a “step-change in the ambitions and speed of activity” at HBC regarding the climate.
The letter says the network appreciates the council setting up the coalition and developing internal change plans but adds:
“However, the network is very concerned about the limited progress made so far.
“We believe there needs to be a step-change in the ambitions and speed of activity, one which reflects the growing and alarming body of scientific evidence and the urgency needed to mitigate and adapt to climate breakdown.”
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Responding to the open letter, Cllr Phil Ireland, cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability said the council had made “good progress” on its climate targets, which are set out in the authority’s Carbon Reduction Strategy.
He said:
“Responding to the climate crisis facing us all is not just an issue for the council.
“It’s an issue for every resident and business across the district. That’s why we created a climate coalition, so we have the right organisations around the same table to jointly tackle climate change together.
“When compared to councils of our size, and with the resources available to us, we have made good progress so far against an ambitious action plan.
“We had already agreed to meet the group before it issued its news release although a convenient date has had to be agreed.”
A full list of HD-CAN members is below:
Extinction Rebellion Harrogate
Harrogate District Friends of the Earth
Harrogate Cycle Action Group
Harrogate & District Green Party
Knaresborough SPARKS
Long Lands Common
Love Sustainable Knaresborough
Nidd Gorge Community Action
Nidderdale Climate and Environment Group
Pinewoods Conservation Group
Sustainably Harrogate
United Nations Association Harrogate
Zero Carbon Harrogate
