What should Warwick do about climate change? That was the challenge tackled by a diverse group of local residents of Warwick District between November 2020 and February 2021.
We partnered with Warwick District Council to facilitate a People’s Inquiry into Climate Change. A people powered solution to the climate emergency.
Letters were sent to a random selection of 5,000 residents asking whether they would like to take part in our inquiry. We received more than 500 responses from which we selected 30 people who reflected the district’s population in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, geography and attitude to climate change.
Between November 2020 and February 2021 the panel of 30 residents met regularly to discuss the question:
‘What do we need to do in the Warwick District to help address climate change by 2030?’.
Led by independent facilitators from Shared Future and under the watchful eye of an oversight panel (which includes local business representatives, community groups, local government, academics and Matt Western MP), participants sat through ten inquiry sessions. During which they heard from experts on topics ranging from the science behind climate change and practical options for making a difference locally, before focussing on issues such as transport, housing, waste and recycling.
The findings and recommendations of the panel have now be published with the intention they will be used by the Council and other organisations, as part of an Action Plan to achieve the District’s target of becoming as close to zero emissions as possible by 2030.
Cllr Alan Rhead, Warwick District Council’s portfolio holder for Environment, said: “The public launch event is a great opportunity for members of the public to be included in our climate change plans and to gain an understanding of what really matters to their representatives on the Inquiry Panel. I would encourage as many people as possible to take part.”
Find out more about the Inquiry on the Council’s website and view the video presentations made by expert speakers.