1 February 2022

Swale Borough Councillor’s Report

Code Red for Humanity

The UN climate conference (COP26) which took place in Glasgow in November put a clear focus on the climate and ecological emergency we are living through. It stimulated many local events around our essential journey to reach net zero carbon emissions and restore nature.

Swale Borough Council organised an event for local businesses to launch the ‘Clean Growth Grant’ scheme. The grants aim to help local small and medium businesses and reduce the environmental impact of their business. The packed event, at the magnificent new Light Cinema in Sittingbourne, heard inspirational talks from local pioneers. Elvis and Kresse, whose operation is based at Painter’s Forstal, described how they turn old fireman’s hoses into desirable bags, wallets and belts (www.elvisandkresse.com). Cook’s Classic Kitchen (www.cookfood.net ), based in Sittingbourne, spoke about their journey to net zero, including the installation of a 150Kw solar roof. The solar panels are owned by Orchard Community Energy and Cook buy the power. The ‘profits’ go to fund local community projects (see orchardcommunityenergy.org). The event was also attended by Nicholls Transport whose HGV fleet now includes 35 trucks powered by liquid natural gas (LNG). Three-quarters of the LNG comes from Blazes Farm where food waste collected by councils across Kent is processed in an anaerobic digester to produce fertiliser and biomethane – a nice example of the circular economy.

In recognition of the Council’s work on the climate emergency, Swale Borough Council was invited to join UK100 – a network of highly ambitious local councils, which seeks to devise and implement plans for the transition to clean energy that are ambitious, cost effective and take the public and business with them. I represented Swale Borough Council at meetings organised by UK100 during COP26 in Glasgow. These meetings enabled local councils to share their experience and knowledge. Topics included the opportunities in retrofitting buildings, decarbonising transport, restoration of sea grass and salt marsh and the specific challenges of the climate crisis for rural areas.

The agreement that came out of COP26 conference was disappointing as world leaders did not respond with the urgency required by the UN’s warning of “code red for humanity”. However, the accord was historic in that it marked the first global agreement to foresee an end to burning coal, and to require withdrawal of subsidy for oil and gas. It also requires all countries to submit revised plans to the COP next year. Under the Paris agreement the next review was not planned until 2025. So, while the can has been kicked down the road, there will another review in 12 months’ time.

Tim Valentine (TimValentine@swale.gov.uk)

Swale Borough Councillors for Boughton & Courtenay.

 

Swale Borough Councillor’s Report

Coronavirus Pandemic

 

No man is an island,

Entire of itself;

Every man is a piece of the continent, 

A part of the main.

If a clod be washed away by the sea,

Europe is the less,

As well as if a promontory were:

As well as if a manor of thy friend's

Or of thine own were.

Any man's death diminishes me,

Because I am involved in mankind.

And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;

It tolls for thee.

 

Reflecting on the pandemic has brought John Donne’s poem to mind. There remain people who are vulnerable, such as those on immunosuppressant treatment, and although more people have mild illness, there are still some who have serious disease. There is also the impact on non-covid illness, as waiting lists rise and hospitals struggle to cope. Much of what we have been asked to do is as much for the benefit of others as ourselves. This certainly applies to mask wearing, but also to vaccination. 85% of eligible people in Faversham and the surrounding villages have taken up the booster, but that still leaves several thousand who have not, so if you have not yet had yours, please do! There are clinics continuing at both the Faversham Practices, with morning walk-in clinics scheduled at Newton Place Surgery.

Looking further afield, the availability of vaccine in many of the poorer countries of the world is a concern, as apart from the direct impact of the disease, variants are more likely to arise as the virus continues to circulate. Just as with climate change, how we respond to the needs of others will have an impact on us, over and above the moral truth expressed by John Donne those centuries ago.

Alastair Gould (AlastairGould@swale.gov.uk)

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