Support

Representation ID: 4517

Received: 23/03/2021

Respondent: Ms Julie Townsend

I strongly support BMDC's commitment to taking firm and urgent action on the climate emergency, and agree with most contents of this policy. I especially welcome the commitments to sustainable transport, given that this is now the sector producing most greenhouse emissions, and with emissions having failed to fall so far. I suggest two ways that this policy could be improved:
-references to tree planting should recognise the greater benefit of allowing shrubs and trees to naturally regenerate (see Rewilding Britain's report: https://www.rewildingbritain.org.uk/support-rewilding/our-campaigns-and-issues/natural-regeneration)
-the policy should explicitly recognise the need to engage and empower communities at a local level to enable a swift and inclusive transition to more sustainable behaviours and lifestyles, given the raft of academic evidence showing the importance of this. There is a particular opportunity to engage village, parish and town councils in this process, and Bradford's rich community and voluntary sector.