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Jul 2020

Last Updated: 23/07/2020

Harrogate

Environmental campaigner quits Harrogate Climate Coalition

by Thomas Barrett

| 23 Jul, 2020

Environmental campaigner Malcolm Margolis has resigned from the Harrogate Climate Coalition because he claims it is not bringing about the "urgent action" that scientists demand around climate change.

Environmental campaigner Malcolm Margolis has resigned from the Harrogate Climate Coalition because of a "lack of action" around climate change.

The group was formed at the beginning of this year after Harrogate Borough Council rejected calls to declare a climate emergency in 2019.

It brings together councillors as well as green groups and local businesses — with the aim of working together in the name of sustainability and helping the environment.

Mr Margolis was a member of the Coalition's sustainable transport subgroup that was set up to look at cycling lanes and how to get people out of cars.

Mr Margolis said he wanted to group to be "not just another talking shop".

He said:

"The Climate Coalition was set up in recognition of environmental emergency - but it doesn’t feel there's a sense of urgency if you don’t have meetings for months.

"The environental emergency is an infinitly more serious problem than Covid-19. It’s absolutely central that we act with urgency. The scientists are telling us we need to act now.

"Cllr Haslam said he wants the group to bring about small quick wins that can make a difference at a local level - but if nothing happens for two months then you're not going to have any quick wins."

Speaking to the Stray Ferret, the chair of the subgroup Cllr Paul Haslam said the Climate Coalition was a "great leap forward" for the environment in the district but conceded that action hasn't been as fast as he would have liked.

He said:

"I agree fully with Malcolm that people haven’t seen anything yet.

Cllr Haslam said after the second meeting of the group, it became clear the members wanted to be "more than just a talking shop — they wanted it to be effective".

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Cllr Haslam said he has had meetings with senior figures in North Yorkshire County Council and has presented them with "every single idea" that the Climate Coalition has come up with.

The group will meet again next week.

He added:

"I want to get us into positions so we are effective, so we don’t just generate the ideas but they get through so we can make changes quicker."

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Environmental campaigner quits Harrogate Climate Coalition

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