Coventry Council Leader Councillor George Duggins has signed a letter from 58 European Mayors calling on the EU to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% of their 1990 levels by 2030 [1]. The text of the letter [2] says, among other things:

We recognise the need to scale up ambition to anchor Europe in a climate-neutral trajectory that will create a future in which all people benefit from a healthy, resilient and safe environment. It’s time for a revision of the EU 2030 energy and climate targets to at least 55% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels, legally binding at member-state level.

However Duggins failed to make any commitment for Coventry to reduce its emissions. This is in stark contrast with 64% of EUROCITIES members that have already committed to becoming climate neutral by 2050. Among them, twelve have even committed to become climate-neutral by 2040 [3].

While Duggins says in a recent statement [4] “we understand the climate change challenge and its significance today as well as for future generations”, Coventry has not even produced a Climate Strategy to replace the one which expires this year. This process, including consultation with the public, is expected to take 6-12 months and has not even begun.

Instead Duggins says he has “asked for the establishment of a ‘Commission for a Sustainable Zero Carbon Coventry’”. This seems to be a replacement for the so-called “Sustainable Development Commission” mentioned in a message from Councillor Jim O’Boyle in July and then apparently forgotten.

CovCAN calls on Coventry City Council and in particular Councillors George Duggins and Jim O’Boyle to wake up to the climate emergency facing the city, the UK and the whole world by replacing empty words with positive, immediate and urgent actions.

References

[1] Call by European Mayors

[2] Text of letter from European Mayors

[3] EU 2030 target plans

[4] Leader of Coventry City Council shows support for emission reduction targets