A NEW cabinet place has been created on Bromsgrove District Council to tackle climate change.

The council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and have now appointed Michael Thompson, who is a councillor for Charford, as the portfolio holder for climate change.

Currently the council are reducing carbon emissions by upgrading lighting to low energy lighting, installing solar panels on coucnil buildings, and providing kerbside recycling collections

Councillor Michael Thompson: “Tackling climate change is a collective responsibility. No government and certainly no district council will do it alone.

"Bromsgrove District Council, however, is responsible for reducing its own carbon footprint as well supporting residents and businesses to do likewise.

"The council has declared a climate emergency but not a climate panic.

"To act with haste is not necessarily to act responsibly, especially when public money is being spent.

"There is a tendency in such times to virtue signal with expensive vanity projects.

"This is not what hard working people voted for, however, and not what we will be doing.

"We fully intend to seek the ideas of others but they must be effective and have a measurable effect in reducing our carbon footprint, protecting the environment and supporting the council’s role in tackling climate change. ”

Leader of Bromsgrove District Council, Karen May said: “I very much look forward to working with Michael in this role. Climate Change is not a political topic and there is no difference – across the political spectrum – in wanting to create a better world for future generations.

"The council has already declared a climate emergency and the creation of this cabinet post is indicative of how seriously we take it.

"Michael has a strong scientific background and has been a practising vegan for over 20 years.

"Before becoming a politician he was active in several climate action movements – with this blend of experience and scientific understanding, I can think of no better colleague to take on this role.”

This comes as Worcestershire County Council declared a climate emergency on July 15 - committing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero from council activities and operations by 2050.