Conservative-run Hertfordshire County Council declared a climate emergency and committed itself to ambitious plans to improve sustainability in Hertfordshire at Tuesday's full council. The motion, proposed by Harpenden North East's Councillor David Williams, who is the Leader of the Council, mandates HCC to develop a Sustainable Hertfordshire Strategy, aimed at reducing the Council's environmental impact.
David said, "I’m pleased that we’ve made this important declaration and I’d like to thank the councillors from all parties who backed this. It’s vital that we have this clear and solid commitment to improving sustainability.
“As a county council we’re well-placed, not just to reduce our own environmental impact but to help the whole county become more sustainable. If we make the right policies and decisions we can help reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, promote energy efficiency, reduce waste, promote more environmentally friendly land use and more.
“This declaration is only the beginning of course, and now we need to develop our Sustainable Hertfordshire Strategy to identify the practical steps we need to make environmental sustainability business as usual for us as we work with the ten district councils to manage growth in the county."