Roland Strauss is the Green Party candidate for Stray ward in the Town Council election on May 1st.
With more and more news emerging about increasingly violent storms and floods, but also droughts and wildfires, the number of people concerned about the climate change and it’s consequences is also rising. Whilst there are still those who question the existence of man-made climate change, the scientific evidence leaves little doubt.
The intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) was set up by the UN in 1988 to advance scientific knowledge about climate change caused by human activities, and it’s scientists from all 195 member countries around the globe are unanimous in the conclusion that man-made climate change is real.
In 2019 Britain committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, but scientists predict that with current efforts this goal will be missed.
Many scientist now also believe that the goal of limiting the temperature rise to a 1.5 C rise above pre-industrial temperatures as agreed in the Paris climate summit in 2015 is no longer achievable, but all agree that every bit of limiting the temperature rise will help mitigate the consequences.
In addition to steering towards a carbon neutral nation, adaptation of our towns and cities to more and powerful storms, heavier rainfalls with flood and periods of droughts will be necessary to cope with the consequences of climate change, which we are already witnessing around the globe.
Efforts towards carbon zero as well as the planning of adaptations to the changing weather need to come from two directions, firstly from central governments, setting the direction of travel of energy transition and over-regional adaptation efforts, and secondly from local communities that know their environment with it’s peculiarities best.
The more active and outspoken local communities are about their concerns, and the more citizens show on a local level that they support parties willing to push for making the necessary adaptations, the more likely central governments will be to listen and steer in the same direction.
That is why it is so important that as many of us go out and vote in this upcoming town council election, where responsibilities of the Harrogate town council are yet to be decided.
As the consequences of climate change become clearer and clearer, more people will see the need for change, but the sooner we start, the better we will be prepared for what is to come.
We therefore hope to see as many citizens as possible on the ballot box, making use of their privilege of being able to participate in active democracy.
Promoted by Ian Charters (Harrogate and District Green Party) at Thornbury House Knaresborough HG5 8JY