A SOMERSET-BASED climate change campaign group has published a number of vital recommendations to help ensure the county becomes carbon neutral going forwards.

The Somerset Climate Action Network (Somerset CAN) has published its report to help inform the Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy currently being drawn up by Somerset councils, and contribute to the discussion about what needs to happen for Somerset to be carbon neutral by 2030.

Somerset CAN chairman Steve Mewes explained that the report has been adapted following the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Mewes said: “While we humans are on ‘lockdown’, the planet and nature has started to recover. 

“Air quality has improved, wildlife has more space and peace to roam, we are all buying less stuff (that we probably never needed), some of us are growing more of our own food and we all have to shop more locally.

“The biggest societal impact of Covid-19 though, once the worst of the virus is past is the likely world recession, and the potential personal, county and national financial crisis. 

“Many have lost their jobs already and there will be further widespread hardship. In the coming months and years, addressing the Climate and Ecological Emergency will be even more important and the way we rebuild after Covid-19 will be fundamental.”

Bridgwater Mercury:

Somerset CAN make a number of recommendations the group hopes to see adopted going forwards.

These include building zero carbon homes and retrofitting existing homes to make them cheaper and more sustainable to heat, encouraging community-owned renewable energy schemes, seeing people grow more of their own food, and investing in community transport.

Mr Mewes concluded: “This terrible virus does not mean that the Climate and Ecological Emergency has gone away. 

“How we rebuild and invest once we are through this will have a fundamental impact on whether we meet our zero-carbon goals and thus create a fairer, cleaner, healthier and positive future in this stunning county of ours “