PUBLIC opinion on how Glasgow should respond to urgent climate change issues is being sought by the City Council.

The Council’s recently-created emergency working group will put forward an action plan to reduce carbon emissions and prevent major climate change over the next few months.

It has launched an online survey to gather the views of the city’s residents, asking “what we should do, how ambitious we should be and what resources we can draw upon”.

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “This is the ideal opportunity for us to hear from everyone who has a view on climate change.

“The consultation is asking for thoughts on what the Council and the city can do to prevent major climate change and the impact this will have on us all.

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“We would urge interested parties to take part in the survey and have their views heard.”

The emergency group was established in February, following a report by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which found there may only be 12 years to limit global warming to a rise of no more than 1.5C.

Councillor Martha Wardrop, who chairs the group, said: “Glasgow is making progress to reduce emissions but the message from the IPCC is that we all need to up our game rapidly to avoid climate breakdown.

“The council’s own strategic plan has set a target of being carbon neutral by 2037 and we need to seek ways of achieving that sooner.

“As a council we must do everything we can to avoid the devastation that is likely to be caused by the current rate of climate change.”

Some of the group’s recommendations will be directed at the Council while others will focus on the wider city, including businesses and communities.

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It has been given until the end of the Council’s summer recess, at the start of August, to come up with the recommendations, which will be put to the Environment, Sustainability and Carbon Reduction Policy Committee.

Councillor Anna Richardson said: “Cities have a responsibility to lead on climate change, and we want to ensure Glasgow plays its part. The clock is ticking and we now have no choice but to treat climate change as the emergency it is.”

To take part in the survey, go to www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ClimateChange2019/

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