New council strategy to deliver carbon neutral Northampton by 2030 welcomed by Extinction Rebellion

Northampton Borough Council Cabinet members are set to discuss a proposed strategy that aims to deliver a net zero carbon, zero waste and climate resilient town by 2030.

The borough council's strategy has several key objectives including improved energy performance among households, increased local food production, improved air quality and green transport and infrastructure networks

There will also be a focus on improving Northampton’s climate resilience through more efficient water management, increased local renewable energy sources and better building standards

And, ensuring climate change is at the forefront of the council’s decision making as well as education and engagement with partners, residents and businesses.

Measures proposed by carbon neutral Northampton 2030 include banning single-use plastics in schools, promoting earlier take-up of electric cars, ensuring new buildings are carbon-neutral and generating energy from bio-waste.

A spokesman for Extinction Rebellion Northampton said the group welcomes the proposals from Northampton Borough Council and says it is "a step in the right direction".

He said: "Although we would like to see an even more ambitious target, we recognise that a 2030 target is going a lot further than other councils across the country, and also national government.

"The next step for Northampton Borough Council needs to be to implement a Citizens’ Assembly to ensure a just transition to a sustainable economy. A Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice will empower citizens to take the lead and politicians to follow with less fear of political backlash."

A Citizens’ Assembly is a representative group of citizens who are selected at random from the population to learn about, deliberate upon, and make recommendations in relation to a particular issue or set of issues

He added: "All too often words by politicians are followed by little or no action. We will continue to push the council for more ambitious targets while ensuring that they are on track for the ones they have already set."

In May this year, members of Extinction Rebellion’s local branches gathered outside the offices as part of a co-ordinated protest. They warned that a return to the approaches taken before lockdown would lead to ‘catastrophic consequences’ for the planet and the people on it.

It follows the efforts of Eco March Northampton who first took to the town centre in 2019 - following ten days of Extinction Rebellion protests in London - to demand that the Government should implement policies to reduce emissions, put a ban on single-use plastics and understand the impact of palm oil deforestation - with some 300 protestors holding brightly coloured, illustrated placards.

Steve Miller of the West Northants Green Party said: "It's to the council's credit that they have produced a Carbon Neutral Strategy. I hope that it gets adopted and that the various councils work together to create an ambitious and joined-up strategy when the unitary council comes into effect next year.

"As always, though, actions speak louder than words and, although there have obviously been challenges this year, I'm disappointed that Northampton Borough Council has not yet implemented its new air quality management area, and I hope that this timidness is not a reflection of a lost appetite for tackling this."

Councillor Mike Hallam, Cabinet Minister for Environment, said: “National government has already committed to ensuring the UK is emitting net zero greenhouse gases in the future, so it was only right we developed a strategy that mirrored this in Northampton.

“Achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 is an ambitious target, but we know we can achieve it with the support of the public, schools, businesses and all our partners.

“We are already taking steps to develop a greener Northampton by implementing a series of sustainability measures such as expanding our electric vehicle charging point network and growing the town’s cycling facilities and routes so that more people are encouraged to leave their cars at home.”

Cabinet will discuss the proposals at its virtual meeting on Wednesday, December 16 at 6pm. Full details on the proposals can be found online here, while the cabinet meeting can be watched live on YouTube here.