Chesterfield Extinction Rebellion activists to dress as Greta Thunberg for climate change protest

Members of the Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire branch of Extinction Rebellion say they will stage a ‘Greta-in’ outside a meeting of Chesterfield Borough Council on Wednesday, when councillors will discuss the issue of climate change.

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Last summer, the council declared a climate change emergency and agreed to set up a working group which has now developed a plan on how the authority aims to become carbon neutral within ten years.

However, Extinction Rebellion believes the plan is ‘not ambitious enough’ and would like to see the council make pledges such as ensuring new houses are zero carbon by 2025.

Liz Worall, of the group, said: “We are dressing as Greta to demand further action and remind the councillors of their responsibility for future generations.”

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, the council’s deputy leader, said: “I would like to publicly thank the members of the Climate Change Working Group who are diverse representatives of our borough for the help and support they gave the council in developing our action plan. The time and energy that the group invested into the action plan is a testament to the desire locally for positive action to support the council and borough to reduce its emissions.

“The plan sets out a clear approach for the council to become carbon neutral within ten years. Our actions, commencing immediately, are targeted and cover specific areas including housing, green spaces, energy and transport.

“We have clearly identified the changes needed and would ask that everyone in Chesterfield thinks about how they can reduce, reuse and recycle as we all have the ability to make a difference. We will proactively engage with local residents to raise awareness and support our communities reduce their emissions.

“The council is taking positive action and will continue to do so including the use of our education and local democracy programme to engage as many of our young people as we can to look at what actions we can all take on climate change.”

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