Council must act now on Climate Change

14th February 2007

Dear Sir

It was unfortunate that the press were excluded from Al Gore's recent presentation, effectively keeping the general public out. His message was an up to date version of his film "An Inconvenient Truth" - those who have seen it are no doubt of the scale of the problem and the need for urgent action now, locally, nationally and internationally. Gore calls for political leaders to make difficult decisions now that will drastically cut carbon emissions and stave off the worst effects of climate change.

Bizarrely, a different message was given to Sheffield people by our political leaders. David Blunkett told us that Sheffield continues to lead the way on green issues while, on the same day as Al Gore's visit, a self congratulatory council motion was passed outlining the city's green achievements but failing to commit itself to an overarching plan to tackle climate change in the city as a whole. Meanwhile the city burns waste instead of reducing and recycling it, has gridlocked traffic and real air quality issues in Tinsley and the city centre.

There were close to 200 at the "alternative" Climate Change Conference on February 3rd while thousands of individuals across the city are addressing their own carbon "footprint". They need an all party group of councillors and council officers working on climate change mitigation and adaptation for the whole city. The city needs to establish a baseline of current greenhouse gas emissions and then set targets to achieve carbon emission reductions in line with avoiding a global average temperature rise of more than 2°C.

Al Gore's message is inspiring people to take action around the world. Many of us hoped if might trigger action and leadership in Sheffield. Instead we got spin and complacency and the new catchphrase that calls for personal inaction - "Britain's Greenest City". The time for action is now.

Yours Sincerely

Eamonn Ward
Sheffield Green Party