THE Covid-19 crisis has brought about rapid changes - like communities quickly setting up systems to ensure no one goes lonely or hungry, or governments distributing funds to support jobs and businesses.

This reconfiguring around our priorities will also be essential if we are to collectively tackle the climate crisis.

In May 2019 I was elected as a District Councillor, and in early 2020 I took on a new role as "Cabinet member for Climate Change".

It is clear that the climate crisis is touching - or will touch - everything, and so a joined-up approach is crucial.

This is why I see my role as, amongst other things, a point of connection between Council departments, and between the Council, partners, and communities – so that we can synchronise efforts to bring our carbon emissions to net zero.

MDDC is aiming to become net zero in its emissions by 2030.

We partnered with Exeter University to determine our "baseline carbon footprint" - this is the number of tonnes of carbon that we’re starting our journey to net zero from; that figure is 20,390t.

JOURNEY TO NET ZERO

Our journey to net zero focuses on the footprint of council buildings, vehicles, energy use, and other things that we directly impact.

It also looks at processes like procurement – who we buy from, and the impact those suppliers have.

Beyond the things we directly impact, we also want to support district-wide action.

We’re creating an action plan to move us towards net zero.

This builds on our conversations and work so far (like identifying council land suitable for tree-planting; setting up discounted solar panel purchase schemes with other authorities; and influencing planning and electric vehicle considerations in the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan), and is synchronising with Devon-wide work, including via the Devon Climate Emergency Response Group.

OUR OWN PLAN

Our own plan looks at areas like housing, local renewable energy schemes, procurement, training, lobbying, and more.

Input to the plan will be welcome, including via our new cross-party "Net Zero Advisory Group" at the Council, and via a series of online "Mid Devon Climate Conversations".

Here, representatives of town and parish councils, local community groups, businesses and others can connect, learn from each other, and feed into our climate action plan.

I greatly value the expertise of groups like the Tiverton Tree Team, Sustainable Crediton, and others.

Some Parishes are working on exciting initiatives too. The first Mid Devon Climate Conversation is today, Friday, June 26, to mark MDDC’s one-year anniversary of signing up to the Devon Climate Declaration.

HANDBOOK

A "Mid Devon Climate Handbook" will accompany our action plan, and go deeper into thematic areas, opportunities for collaboration, and examples of what’s possible to help inspire and guide action. This will draw on local and national work.

Our work will be reviewed and updated regularly. A partnership approach will be crucial, and we are working with other authorities to share skills, opportunities and knowledge.

Other opportunities include working with emerging regional food hubs to support farmers and producers locally, and reduce food mileage.

There is no more time to lose on this journey, and – already one year into our signing up to the Devon Climate Declaration - there is a long way to go. Post-Covid-19, there are opportunities and funds that could help us "build back better", and as far as our powers as a District Council allows us, we need to make the most of them.

Where we need more powers – or ambition, or political will, or funds – we need to call for them.

All MDDC officers have been working tirelessly in recent months on the Covid-19 crisis, and it has pushed back many plans.

But, it has also brought into focus our priorities and our capacity for quick action, collaboration, and care. These are things we must draw on as we tackle the climate crisis.

We’d be very glad if you’d be a part of this journey. If you’d like to share your thoughts, you can contact me by email: [email protected] or by telephone on 07841 529773 – thank you.

Councillor Elizabeth Wainwright

Green Party

Sandford and Creedy