Plans to tackle climate change in city approved

Councillor Jim O'Boyle stressed the need for action on climate change

Plans to tackle climate change and other environmental issues in Coventry have been given the green light after the approval of a six-year strategy.

There are more than 150 projects to help the city reach net zero by 2050, and also boost nature, cut waste and cope with extreme weather.

But the council acknowledged of its strategy that not everyone was concerned about climate change or sustainability, with almost a fifth of people responding to plans last year taking this view.

Some said they were more worried about the cost of living, with other comments reflecting "some cynicism".

'A massive task'

According to council reports, the strategy cannot be carried out without support across the city, and adds the authority must consider ways to benefit people whether or not they are worried about climate change.

Council papers also state the city must find "significant" cash to pay for the strategy's ambitions.

Presenting the strategy at a council meeting this week, Jim O'Boyle from the ruling Labour group said climate change affected everybody and stressed the need to act.

He said it was going to be a "massive and ongoing task" but claimed there was an opportunity to "create positive change".

For the Greens, Stephen Gray said the strategy was "very solid" but called for more action on a waste incinerator and said the targets needed to be more ambitious.

Conservative John Blundell said it was a "very substantial document" but urged the council to stay adaptable.