COVENTRIANS are being urged to ‘help shape Coventry’s future’ by joining an event this weekend which will aim to alter the city council’s climate change strategy, which green groups feel requires ‘significant improvements.’
Coventry city council launched its draft climate change strategy for the next seven years back in February, which aims to set out the foundations for creating a sustainable, zero-carbon city.
However, several Coventry green groups believe while the council’s plan, which is open for public consultation until May 31, has some good points, it ‘doesn’t go far enough’.
It also feels community consultation has been minimal and has written its own shadow climate chage strategy, which has been drawn up by a panel of people with expertise across several fields.
This has been spearheaded by Coventry Green New Deal, which is hosting a launch event for the shadow strategy this Sunday, May 21 at the city’s Methodist Central Hall from 1pm.
This will allow those attending to give their feedback on the green new deals draft plan, after which it will be altered, finalised and submitted to the council.
The group hopes the council will then adopt the ideas in the shadow strategy into the authority’s final plan for the city.
Coventry green new deal spokesperson said: “We’d love the help of local people to ensure we have struck the right balance in what we have prepared so far, and this meeting will give people the chance to help us shape the finished document.
“This is a chance for people in Coventry to make a real and practical difference to the city’s future.”
A Council spokesperson said: “We welcome the feedback and are keen to work with stakeholders across the city to feed into the final Climate Change Strategy and beyond this to support on its delivery as this requires a city wide effort.
“We are only part way through our engagement and so far there has been lots of interest and we thank everyone who has taken the time to comment.”
The group also wants to use the meeting as a chance to explore whether people and organisations feel there should be a ‘green coalition’ in Coventry and what that would look like.
Anyone who signs up to attend the meeting will receive a copy of the draft shadow climate change strategy before Sunday’s event.
Visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-shadow-climate-strategy-for-coventry-launch-and-feedback-tickets-622425981867 to sign up for Sunday’s event or letstalk.coventry.gov.uk/climate-change-strategy to take part in the councils consultation.
