A Call to Action: Climate Resilience for Our Community

As the local elections approach on 1st May, now is an important moment for our local environment and future prospects. Together with a coalition of more than 25 Buckinghamshire-based environmental organisations, sustainability-minded businesses, and faith and family groups, BCCA has joined forces to address the urgent challenge of climate change in our local area.

We’ve developed and co-signed this open letter to Bucks Council candidates, outlining five critical priorities that will not only strengthen our climate resilience but also unlock the potential of the green economy.

Take a look at the letter and help us spread the word!

24 April 2025
OPEN LETTER TO BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL CANDIDATES

Dear Buckinghamshire Council candidate,

The climate crisis is the biggest threat to our shared future. While the extremes of climate change are experienced most harshly abroad, Buckinghamshire and its residents are not immune to its effects. Devastating localised flooding, extreme temperatures, water stress, and the visible decline of biodiversity, are just some of the growing environmental challenges that residents and local businesses face and are deeply concerned by. The ramifications of inaction – worsened air quality affecting health, food, water and energy insecurity, with increased prices, and even more extreme weather events – demand greater prioritisation and stronger leadership.

Since the last election, Buckinghamshire Council’s climate response has focused mainly on tree planting, which is very welcome, but has been underwhelming in terms of moving towards a net-zero economy embracing electrification and renewable energy, enabling active travel and embedding a more sustainable culture. Volunteer organisations alone cannot drive change at the necessary scale and pace. While we recognise the difficult budgetary environment, we see that our residents are missing out on the opportunities presented by the burgeoning green economy, from green jobs and cost efficiencies associated with more sustainable living, to access to national fundings pots and initiatives. A clear example of this is the failure to bid for the zero-emission bus funding that has had a transformative effect in Oxford. Furthermore, from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, Buckinghamshire Council secured one grant worth around £345,000, compared with £5 million for Oxfordshire, £7 million for Surrey, £24 million for Hertfordshire and £29 million for Hampshire. [1]

On behalf of residents in our communities, we ask you as a prospective Buckinghamshire Councillor, if you are elected, to engage with us, and the challenge at hand, to prepare for these changes so that future generations can not only manage the conditions we leave for them, but they can also thrive. 

Specifically, we ask you to support five urgent priorities:

  1. Engage with and amplify local climate action: Advocate for stronger climate action and a leadership that is open to engagement with climate groups in Buckinghamshire.

  2. Achieve net zero: Strengthen the council’s Air Quality and Climate Change Strategy to push for net zero emissions in the council’s operations well before 2050 and ideally by 2030. [2]

  3. Role model positive change: Divest the council's pension fund from fossil fuel investments including coal and move away from gas in council buildings.

  4.  Help to facilitate the clean energy transition: Prioritise and enable greater uptake of solar, heat pumps and other cost-saving green technologies, in homes and schools, to drive jobs and investment, while improving residents’ lives.

  5.  Enable increased clean and active travel: Dramatically accelerate the roll-out of schemes outlined in the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, enforce developer obligations around active travel, and act to improve cycle and walking paths.

We represent many of the volunteer-led groups in Buckinghamshire working to secure a better future for our families, friends, neighbours, and future generations. From repair cafes and biodiversity projects to awareness raising events, there is a huge amount of sustainability-driven activity going on locally, which would be turbocharged by support from Buckinghamshire Council and its councillors.

Now is the time to collaborate to build climate resilience in our beautiful county of Buckinghamshire. We look forward to your response.

Signed by:

Buckingham Edible Woodland
Bucks Climate Action Alliance
Buckinghamshire Community Energy
Bucksum
Climate Action Now Risborough
Chesham Environmental Group
Chesham Repair Café
Chesham4Fairtrade Steering Group
Chiltern Peace and Justice Group
Climate Action Wendover
Climate Action Weston Turville
Green Crendon
Haddenham Safe Walking & Cycling Group
Mothers CAN Buckingham
Orca and Bee Refills
Parents for Future Herts and Bucks
Phoenix Energy Community
Planet Refill
Renewed Eco Shop
Speen Environmental Action Group
Springfield Partners Limited
St Peter's Church Burnham
Sustainable Amersham
Sustainable Chesham
The Burnham Foundation
Wycombe Friends of the Earth
Zero Carbon Haddenham

[1] Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme - GOV.UK
[2] Agenda for Council on Wednesday, 12th March, 2025, 4.00 pm - Modern Council