Southampton’s green city plans and ‘COP26 to Freemantle’ campaign.
While world leaders meet in Glasgow for COP26, local authorities and environmental groups are taking action against the climate crisis.
Councillor Steve Leggett, a Freemantle Labour representative for Southampton City Council, is part of the ‘COP26 to Freemantle’ campaign and explained that it will show how this “big international conference relates to people locally”.
The main issues raised are air quality and pollution, sustainable transport and rising energy prices.
Cllr Leggett said: “We need to bring all residential properties up to a minimum standard for energy efficiency by making sure we have cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and double glazing.”
Local environmental groups are hosting a Global Day for Climate Justice event at Southampton’s Guildhall on November 6.
Lyn Brayshaw, a member of Friends of the Earth Southampton, explained that there will be a march at the event which she hoped would make local councils make ‘radical’ and ‘bold’ steps forward.
Southampton City Council announced the publication of its Green City Plan in March 2020 which set out more than 60 specific plans for the next three years to help create a cleaner, greener and more sustainable council.
An introduction of cycle lanes were seen along Bassett Avenue, the Avenue and St. Marys Road and in May you can see the Living Wall at Millbrook Roundabout come into bloom.
The first active travel zones in the city were established in 2021 which utilised the Transforming Cities Grant funding. Cllr Legget said: “Our long term transport ambition fits in nicely with our green city agenda and our climate emergency because transport is such an important part of it.”
Southampton City Council has also passed the Clean Growth Fund which is the council’s largest investment in renewable energies and the council also has begun plans for city-wide Green Grid infrastructure to provide healthier routes for people and wildlife.
Steve Leggett explained that the council needed “everyone else to do their bit as well” and praised younger people as they seemed to “get it more”.
“They’re starting to realise that actually, the climate emergency isn’t something in the future, it’s happening right now,” Cllr Leggett added.
