CORNWALL Council’s deputy leader, Adam Paynter, and his team were on hand to talk all things climate change in Launceston on Tuesday, June 18.

Cllr Paynter, who is also Cornwall Councillor for Launceston North and North Petherwin, was in Launceston town square to speak to residents about climate change and to gather their thoughts on the matter. This follows Cornwall Council’s declaration of a climate emergency in January of this year.

Cllr Paynter and his small team were speaking to residents to learn more about what the public wants from the council’s climate emergency, which will be discussed and presented to cabinet in July.

Cornwall Council will be speaking to residents across Cornwall, having started the consultation process in Lostwithiel following on from further discussions with people at the Royal Cornwall Show.

Speaking about the consultation event, a representative from Cornwall Council, in attendance on the day, told the Post: “It’s a round of conversations. We’re having 16 conversations in total across Cornwall, we started last week in Lostwithiel and today we’re in Camelford and Launceston. It builds on an initial conversation at the Royal Cornwall Show. As you’re aware Cornwall Council declared a climate emergency as part of our commitment to tackling climate change. There will be a report, which on July 24 will go to cabinet for discussion.

“By doing this (consultation), we want to ensure Cornwall’s voice is very loud. The conversation will focus around ten themes, which are displayed on the board. These themes include housing, transport, waste — and we want to find out, as a council, how can we make a difference?”

Just 40 minutes into the process that morning, the council representativr said they had already spoken to a number of local residents.

“It has been quite brisk. It’s really good to see what people think, and it’s great to see how the public opinion has changed.”

A number of people had placed coloured stickers on different themes on the ‘tackling climate change’ board, asking what Cornwall Council should focus on to make a difference.

The ten themes included reducing car journeys through public transport and encouraging walking and cycling; creating large scale renewable energy farms; planting more trees; building energy efficient new homes; making it easier to reduce, reuse and recycle waste; more public charging points to help people switch to electric cars; more solar energy panels on rooftops; helping nature and wildlife to thrive; making existing homes more energy efficient; making it easier to reduce single use plastics.

The variety of views were evident, as Cllr Paynter explained. He said: “It’s been really good. It’s been interesting to talk to people and hear from them.”

Renewable energy is one of the council’s main focuses in the search for a solution, with the authority aiming to making Cornwall carbon neutral by 2030.

“We’re asking people to put stickers on the board to see what people think is important, because I think climate change is a very important issue for everyone,” Cllr Paynter said.

“At the Royal Cornwall Show, we were getting people to have the conversation and to start thinking about positive ways to tackle it.

“We declared a climate emergency in January this year, and we will be reporting back about what the council is doing. But as a council there’s not much we can do, it’s what you do — it’s what everyone else does that makes the difference.

“Climate change is very important to the council. It is one of our main priorities going forward in the next two years. I think it’s important for everyone on the agenda. People are becoming more aware of plastics and people are becoming more aware of carbon and its impact. Cornwall Council are looking to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2030, but it’s going to be very difficult to do unless we get support from central government.

“We’re giving everyone in the town the chance to give us their ideas, and there has been a broad range of views. For example, I spoke to one gentleman this morning who says that climate change isn’t happening, and there are people who still think that. But there are a lot of people about now. Man are making a difference and causing a problem — so that’s six-billion plus people causing a lot of climate issues.”

In July, a report from the public consultation process will go to cabinet, which will then decide what action will be taken in tackling the climate crisis in Cornwall.

Cllr Paynter added: “We have lots of options. One of these is officer time — do we increase our officers to looking at how to further this agenda? Another thing is how much money do we put into this? There are lots of things the council can do, such as electric car charging points, improving trains and buses, improving public transport, and recycling. But one of the most important things to consider is, what can we afford to do?”

Residents in Cornwall can fill out a survey to provide their opinion. Visit www.cornwall.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/climate-emergency/

Cornwall Council will also be attending a number of events across the county over the summer to speak about climate change with residents.