Bolton Council have released a statement on what they have achieved since declaring a climate emergency a year ago.

On August 29 2019 the council became the eighth local authority in Greater Manchester to declare a climate emergency and committed to making all its activities ‘net-zero carbon’ by 2030.

So far £18m has been invested in fleet replacement and LED street lighting throughout the borough.

Tree planting projects have also been funded as part of a £1.5m cleaner and greener initiative.

There are also plans to involve the wider community by holding a Youth Climate Summit and Big Climate Conversation online.

Bolton Council’s executive cabinet member for environmental services, Cllr Adele Warren, said: “We have achieved a great deal in the year since declaring a climate emergency and aim to make significant progress in the months and years ahead.

“The council has already invested £18m in fleet replacement and LED street lighting. This is alongside our £1.5m cleaner and greener initiative which has already funded tree planting and other environmental projects.

“We are working closely with our colleagues in Greater Manchester on efforts to make council buildings more sustainable, encourage active travel and address traffic emissions.

“Despite the disruption caused by the covid-19 pandemic, we remain committed to achieving our climate goals and we want to engage with Bolton residents as the hard work continues.

“We are looking at ways to hold the Youth Climate Summit and the borough-wide Big Climate Conversation virtually.”

However, environmental activists want to see more action being taken regarding the climate emergency.

A year on from the declaration protestors from Extinction Rebellion marched in the town calling on the Council to move forward with their plans.

Meanwhile, Paris Hayes who started a petition in July 2019 asking for the council to declare a climate emergency, feels that more could be done.

Paris, a Green Party candidate for the Hulton ward, said: “I’m really disappointed that so little has been done. Coronavirus cannot be an excuse as that has only had an impact on the last six months.

“The pandemic has shown us that we have a perfect opportunity for a green recovery, air pollution went down significantly during lockdown.

“We need to have more action, we need to follow the example of other councils across Greater Manchester.

“There is a climate emergency and we need to act now, we can either spend small amounts on simple changes today, or wake up in 10 years’ time and realise we have serious problem which takes a lot of money to solve.

“If we get the right people in Parliament, and the right people in the council then the country, and Bolton for that matter, will be a better place to live.”