Wirral calls for champions to lead the charge against climate change

A call has gone out for Wirral residents who are passionate about protecting the environment and tackling climate change to help spread the word in their communities.

Wirral Council, along with other Wirral organisations and businesses which have combined to form the ‘Cool Wirral’ partnership, is looking for volunteers who would like to inspire others to take action and make changes to their lifestyle to reduce their carbon footprint.

Cool Wirral has set a target of achieving net-zero emissions in Wirral by 2041. As a Climate Champion, anyone who volunteers will play a key role in this by taking part in activities designed to raise awareness of climate change. They will also be expected to encourage members of their community to spread messages and take action to help meet this goal.

Through the council and its partners, Energy Projects Plus, Faiths 4 Change, Wirral CVS, and Wirral Environmental Network, volunteers will be given specialist, non-technical training on climate change issues and solutions, as well as an insight into the work being undertaken by Cool Wirral partners and how best they can support their community.

Cllr Liz Grey, Chair of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee for Wirral Council, said: “It is going to be impossible for us to fulfil our aims on tacking climate change without collective action and our Climate Champions can advocate for the issue in their own communities.

“When we declared a climate emergency in Wirral in 2019, the council set an example by aiming to be a net carbon neutral organisation by 2030. I hope as many residents as possible look into things they can do to contribute to reducing their own carbon footprint and the activities on the climate hub are a great way for people to start thinking about the steps they can take and areas in which they can reduce emissions.”

Some of the things that volunteers might have the opportunity to take part in as a Climate Champion include:-

Promoting campaigns and climate-related events
Door knocking with Wirral’s Community Connectors
Taking part in community engagement events
Speaking to residents about climate change
Supporting and/or delivering online talks
Writing blogs or articles for a range of media
Setting up or contributing to climate-related community projects, such as food growing, clothes mending, or community energy projects)
Volunteering at Borough of Culture 2024 events that relate to sustainability

Cllr Grey added: “As a Climate Champion, you will play a vital role in helping Cool Wirral achieve its goal of becoming a net-zero borough by 2041. You will be part of a team of volunteers who are passionate about making a difference in their community and the world.”