EXTREME weather events such as storms and heat waves and outbreaks of diseases such as malaria are likely to be experienced in Warrington – even if the human race was able to stop producing pollution today.
This is made clear in a report to be considered by the borough council’s cabinet on January 12.
Accordingly the council needs to take steps to adapt to a gradually changing climate at the same time as attempting to reduce pollution.
Human activities around the world continue to add to a thickening blanket of “greenhouse” pollution in the atmosphere. This pollution is causing the planet to overheat and this has dire consequences that if left unchecked will lead to catastrophic impacts for humans, the economy and natural environment. While this is a global issue, pollution from Warrington is adding to the problem and having local impacts on people and organisations in Warrington.
The report, by officers, will be presented to the cabinet by Cllr Tony Higgins, lead member for climate change, sustainability and the environment.
It states that Warrington is likely to experience warmer, wetter winters and longer drier summers and more extreme weather events such as storms and heat waves.
Gradual changes in climate globally also pose risks such as new patterns of disease such as malaria; disruptions to global supply chains and the migration of people. All of which are likely to result in additional pressures on Warrington.
Councils clearly can’t resolve the crisis in isolation but have a unique role to help support place-based change, improve local conditions and to lead by example. Most have recognised this by declaring a climate emergency – Warrington did so in 2019.
But if the borough is to become a future ready place that can prosper, thrive and remain an attractive place to do business, it will need to transform into a sustainable ‘net-zero’ and climate-adapted place.
Local impacts of a changing climate include poor air quality, associated health issues, degrading ecosystems and biodiversity and poor water quality
But the report makes it clear the council is taking action. The Warrington Climate Emergency Commission has been set up as an independent voice to support borough-wide change.
The overall trend is clear and encouraging, the report claims. Borough-wide CO2e emissions have fallen from 2,220.8 kilotonnes in 2005 to 1,246.0 kilotonnes in 2023. Air quality across the borough has also improved and with the entire bus fleet now all-electric it is likely the improvement will continue.
