Stockport Council will host its first virtual summit to discuss action towards its Climate Action Now priorities for tackling the climate emergency and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2038.
The Climate Action Now (CAN) Summit will be free to attend and take place on Tuesday 9th November, coinciding with the COP26 international summit in Glasgow, and aims to celebrate, connect and inspire climate action across Stockport. The virtual event will run from 10am – 4:30pm and will be split into four bookable sections: Stockport CAN, Businesses, Young People, and Communities.
The CAN Summit will showcase some of the amazing work of residents, communities, schools and businesses, as well as the Council’s commitment to the climate action agenda and how carbon reduction is being embedded into the way the Council operates.
In March 2019, the Council declared a Climate Emergency and agreed that decisive action was needed in order to avoid a catastrophe.
Last year, the Council set out its proposals for the next five years. The proposals recognised that the Council has already made great progress in Stockport in areas such as recycling, embarking on an ambitious LED street lighting programme that will reduce energy demand by 33%, as well as extensive tree planting across the borough. But there is still much more that needs to be done on the journey to become carbon neutral.
To address this, the Council has committed to put climate change at the heart of everything it does and to make it a core part of strategy development and decision making, changing the way it behaves and leading by example.
Cllr Shelia Bailey, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport, said:
I am delighted that we are holding our very first virtual Climate Action Now Summit. The CAN Summit will allow attendees to hear first-hand the great work that has taken place so far with our communities, businesses and young people and also our plans for the future.
“I would urge anyone to attend who wants to make a positive impact and do their bit, however small, and hear from like-minded people. I’m sure it will be an inspiring day, with lots of interesting debate about how we are all playing our part, as climate change is everyone’s business and we know that if we don’t act now, the consequences are unthinkable. It involves every single one of us making positive changes to protect ourselves and future generations. The scale of the challenge is huge but we believe Stockport CAN and we will.”
At the Summit, the Stockport Climate Action Now (CAN) fund will be launched to support residents, communities and schools to take action on climate change. Grants typically from £100 to £500 will be available for small projects that impact greenhouse gas emissions in Stockport.
All sessions of the summit are free to attend; however, places are limited. Book your tickets to take part via Eventbrite.