Steve Rotheram hosts climate change forum in Liverpool

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

“I’ve been very clear that the climate emergency is the existential crisis of our time and that it will require a huge collective effort to successfully tackle it by reducing emissions. Events like today’s, bringing environmental groups, businesses and the public sector together, are an important part of building consensus and collective action.

“In our city region we are already working together to put ourselves at the forefront of the green industrial revolution we need to tackle the climate emergency. With our Mersey Tidal Power project, the huge investment in offshore wind in Liverpool Bay, exciting developments in hydrogen power and carbon capture through the Hynet project, and our pioneering contribution to new ways to build and retrofit homes, we can become the UK’s renewable energy coast.

“Put those assets together with our transformational plans for digital connectivity – a key enabler for all of the green technologies I’ve mentioned here – and we have a compelling vision for the future; a vision I will be sharing with the world at the COP26 conference in Glasgow.”

Councillor David Baines, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Portfolio Holder for Climate Emergency and Renewable Energy, said:

“We know that the joint actions on Climate Change present some of the biggest challenges but also tremendous opportunities for our region.

“As portfolio lead for climate emergency and renewable energy I am working to ensure we create a practical regional plan that involves all the parties that will need to act to make Net Zero a reality in Liverpool City Region.

“Today’s event offers a key insight into the work of partners from different sectors and how it will take a co-ordinated and huge effort from everyone working together to take the thousands of small steps across the city to reduce energy consumption and switch to lower carbon fuel sources.

“Working together I am sure we will rise to the challenge.”

Amanda Lyne, Deputy Chair of the Liverpool City Region LEP’s Clean Growth Board, said:

“Today’s event has been a real showcase for work across the city region, showing the contribution we can all make to tackling the climate emergency.

“From huge schemes such as the Mersey Tidal Power programme and Hynet, through to local projects funded through the Community Environment Fund, we have seen today that, while it will take effort, imagination and determination, we have already made a strong start down the road towards a net zero carbon Liverpool City Region.  The only way we will make it to that destination is together.”