"As Penarth's community-based environmental group we strongly welcome the news that the Vale of Glamorgan Council is working on a Climate Change Action Plan," says Gwyrddio Penarth Greening (GPG).

"There has already been some forward movement - building Wales' first net-zero in-use carbon schools; installing solar panels on council buildings; switching to LED streetlights; increasing the use of teleconferencing – all of these are positive.

"However, given the council declared a Climate Emergency over 18 months ago, and time is running out to avoid climate

breakdown, we need to see bold and urgent action.

"While the need to prioritise the Climate Emergency in the Coronavirus Recovery Strategy might be obvious, it's welcome that the Council is putting an emphasis on this.

"And clearly, the need for a meaningful 'Climate Conversation' has never been higher.

"But of course, that conversation has – at both local and global levels – been going on for quite a while. And so has the Recovery Strategy.

"There is catching up to do. During 2020 it has not been obvious that the dots are being joined up, or that the different ambitions of the Vale Council are working in a synchronised and systemic way.

"Often, things happen late, and on a lower scale than they should. Meanwhile many local communities in Wales – for example Aberaeron, Aberystwyth, Cardigan, and New Quay in Ceredigion, and Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford in Carmarthenshire – and indeed Cardiff – have responded to lockdown in inventive, environmentally thoughtful ways.

"They have seen the opportunity to promote the Welsh

Government's Active Travel agenda, and put the climate emergency at the front of their thinking.

"Sadly, the Vale has lagged behind. Its response to the pandemic has seemed slow and uncertain where other

councils have been proactive in making new and better things happen.

"The recent introduction of parklets in Penarth is a very good example of a great idea, but done late, on a small scale.

"There was an opportunity here for a larger-scale rethinking of how the town centre works – and plans put forward for a

part-pedestrianisation, to both maximise footfall and allow for social distancing.

"Next to which, the parklets are a kind of mini-gesture. And they have been allocated in non-transparent ways, according to criteria which, if they exist, neither applicants nor citizens can see.

"So, a brilliant step, which we strongly support. But too slow and too small.

"'Slow and small' will not work when it comes to the Climate Change Action Plan for the Vale. Some say that Covid has been a dress-rehearsal for the climate emergency and will require a significant response from across society.

"As identified in their own survey, the Vale of Glamorgan has air pollution levels higher than the Welsh average, caused by high levels of commuting traffic and diesel engines, whilst active travel routes are inadequate.

"Sadly this winter has seen high levels of flooding across the Vale – one of the many impacts of a changing climate.

"As proud Vale residents as well as sustainability campaigners, we would like to see the Vale being ambitious.

"We would like to see :

a clear identification of the current challenges the Vale faces regarding the Climate Emergency, and where the overall priorities lie.

"So: What are the problems?

a full sense of how different areas of policy – on e.g. Covid recovery, urban systems like transport & mobility, construction and real estate, goods, food & beverage as well as correlated resources such as energy, water, materials, land use, waste, and information – will be contribute together to the overall agenda, through appropriate policy interventions around areas like regulatory frameworks on

resource management (land use included), fiscal frameworks, business support schemes and service

development, public procurement & infrastructure, contract management, collaboration platforms, education & information.

"So: How will the Vale organised a joined-up response to those problems?

measurable targets, alongside identified goals. So: By what measures will we be able to determine the Vale's progress towards becoming zero-carbon?

a sense of who will do what. Some actions will naturally fall to the Council. Some will involve citizens and businesses. So: how will the Council's contributions relate to those of others? What do you want from us and how can we support your ambitions?

a clear roadmap for results, spelling out how progress on all of this will be tracked by the council in the short, medium and long terms.

"So: how will Vale citizens be able to tell exactly how much progress has been made? Conversation is vitally important. But more important is action.

"Clear, ambitious, purposive, measurable action. This moment gives a real opportunity for our Vale of Glamorgan Council to raise its sights, coordinate its agenda and act with the urgency that the Climate Emergency demands.

"We'll be with you every step of the way."