The climate emergency is one of the biggest challenges we face with three-quarters (75%) of UK adults now saying they are worried about the impact of climate change.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019. But have they done enough? And will the new councillors take action?

Since 2019, the situation has become even more urgent, with the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change saying that it's "code red for humanity" and that we require "rapid, deep and immediate" cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and a peak in global emissions within three years to stave off the worst impacts of climate change.

While these are global issues, they connect with our everyday lives and our choices. People want to know what can be done in their communities, and how our politicians will take action locally Ahead of the local elections on May 5, Gwyrddio Penarth Greening (GPG) has contacted all candidates standing in Penarth for election to Vale of Glamorgan Council and Penarth Town Council.

GPG is a long-established group of local volunteers working to improve the environment, encourage climate action, and build a sustainable community in Penarth. The candidates have been asked which of the following steps they would be willing to pursue if elected:

1. Help people to reduce their carbon footprint by making it easier to live, work and shop locally.

2. Support policies which will make our homes more energy-efficient, for both renters and homeowners.

3. Reduce road congestion and pollution by improving public transport and providing a network of electric charging points.

4. Take direct steps to reduce waste and encourage reuse, repair and recycling.

Gideon Calder, chair of the GPG, said: "We see the town and county councils as crucial to connecting up national and international priorities with what can happen locally, in our neighbourhoods, to address the climate emergency.

"As always, we need to "act local" while "thinking global". We're finding that more and more people are looking to their elected representatives to show the way by taking clear, realistic steps that can be seen to make a difference."

As a community-based charity, GPG has a long history of working in partnership with councillors, businesses and other community organisations. The idea behind this initiative is not just to secure promises from people hoping to be elected. It aims to lay the foundations for stepping up community activity around the climate emergency in the coming months.

All candidates replying so far firmly support each of the four steps mentioned. And several of them have made commitments over and above. "We are delighted to have had such a positive response," said GPG member Eurgain Powell. "And we will be very much looking forward to keeping this conversation going after the election – and backing it up with decisive local action to tackle the climate emergency."

This article was written by Gideon Calder. You can write your own articles for Penarth Nub News by clicking the 'Nub It' button.