County council’s £1million boost for green initiatives

A climate change fund of £1million  has been created by Somerset County Council – thought to be the biggest single investment of its kind in the country.

The £1million pot will be available for parish and town councils to bid for green initiatives in their own patch as the county council acts on its decision to sign the national Climate Change Emergency Declaration which aims to make Somerset carbon neutral by 2030 – with a commitment to find more in the following years.

Council leader David Fothergill said, “This is bold, it is innovative, and it will drive the ability to parish and town councils who know their patches so well, to spend the money in ways that will have the greatest impact.

“As a council we can only do so much, but with parishes and town councils as our partners we can help individuals and communities change their own behaviours and that is the great prize that will make the biggest difference.”

 And the £1million fund is not the only good news for climate change supporters. A motion to plant a tree for every baby born in Somerset next year was also agreed by councillors.

The announcements came at last week’s full council meeting and there was a further boost that more funding would be found to support climate change initiatives.

Council officers have been tasked with finding further funds as the council, along with other local authorities, work to produce a strategy to support climate change work – that strategy is expected to be published in early summer.

Over the past few months, major consultations got under way in the shape of drop-in events and surveys with partners, businesses, interested parties and residents of all ages across Somerset, with the results helping to develop the strategy.