Climate Emergency
Back in May 2019, Leicestershire County Council declared a Climate Emergency. The Authority aims to become carbon neutral by 2030.
Here are some resources you may find helpful around declaring a climate emergency:-
Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils
They will be able to provide advice and support in a local context
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The LGA have some useful resources focused on climate change, including a Councillor's workbook for acting on climate change.
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Climate Emergency is a website that lists all the Council's across the UK who have declared a climate emergency, including Town and Parish Councils. It provides case studies of how other councils have approached the issue and includes other resources and guides
Friends of the Earth - 20 Actions (PDF, 1.1 Mb)
This useful guide produced by Friends of the Earth is aimed at local parish and town councils who are interested in how they can practically 'do their bit' in addressing environmental and climate issues.
Climate Change
There are many opportunities to improve the environment and make wildlife more resilient to climate change. You can make a start by looking at things that you already invest time and money in and see if you can tweak any of these for the benefit of Biodiversity.
This could be by planting bee/hover-fly friendly plant species in your garden, street planters or handing baskets; to making and erecting bat and bird boxes or bug hotels and wildlife gardening. These types of projects can also involve the support of local interest groups such as scouts, WI or schools.
Your local Parish/Town Council can get involved, if they have a tree warden perhaps they can get involved with wider Biodiversity creation or protection work. They can encourage more community involvement in creating and managing habitats, apply for grants towards Biodiversity enhancements etc.
Below are some links you may find useful:-
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Go wild in your garden, practical advice for wildlife gardening
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Step by Step handbook which also cover a thorough and wide-ranging introduction to each subject.
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Advice on everything to do with bats from gardening to the law.
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Make wildlife welcome in your garden. Advice and guidance on creating a wildlife-friendly garden
Biodiversity and the Built Environment (PDF, 1.7 Mb)
Report produced by the UK Green Building Council, an independent, membership based, not-for-profit organisation and contains case studies, key findings and recommendations
Making Contracts Work For Wildlife (PDF, 2.3 Mb)
Guide on how to encourage biodiversity in urban parks
Planning advice for swift friendly building
