Climate change responsibility of West Midlands highlighted

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has emphasised the moral responsibility the region has in leading the fight against climate change.

As the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and a global player in the development of green technology, the West Midlands Combined Authority and partners set a target in 2010 to reduce carbon emissions by 40 per cent by 2030.

Welcoming a recent report by the Climate Change Committee recommending the UK aims for a ‘net-zero’ contribution to greenhouse gases by 2050, the mayor said the region’s expertise in clean energy and electric vehicle technology meant it was uniquely placed to spearhead action.

In response to the report, the WMCA and Street are now set to consider proposals for revised carbon reduction and green business growth targets for the region and how to achieve this.

Street said: “As the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and a global player in the development of green technology, we need to recognise our responsibility in creating a new Industrial Revolution that delivers clean and inclusive growth. We have the knowhow and expertise to do this. Over five years we succeeded in reducing carbon emissions by 18 per cent while improving economic productivity by 23 per cent and that was the best performance of any combined authority in the UK.

“So growing the economy while protecting the environment is perfectly possible. But there is far more we need to do and I would argue the planet needs the West Midlands to bring its expertise to bear and help show the way.”