Charity calls on Fenland residents to support campaign tackling area's emissions

Fenland residents are being called on to support a new campaign to tackle carbon emissions from transport in the area.

Cambridgeshire cycling charity Camcycle is encouraging residents to get involved in a campaign to improve and achieve walking and cycling.

The the Zero Carbon Streets campaign, which will mark Earth Day on Thursday, April 22, aims to empower more groups in the area to achieve walking and cycling improvements in their neighbourhoods.

It is hoped that this move would help more people to switch some of their everyday car journeys to more sustainable modes of travel, as transport makes up 44% of Cambridgeshire’s carbon footprint (higher than the UK average).

The charity says that rapid change is needed if the county is to play its part in helping the UK reach net zero by 2050.

Camcycle, which has spent 25 years successfully campaigning for better cycling in the area, also wants to recruit a new infrastructure campaigner to accelerate local action on walking and cycling.

Executive director, Roxanne De Beaux, said: “We know that better infrastructure is proven to increase rates of active travel.

“Local people have ideas for cycling and walking improvements, but frequently reach out to Camcycle for advice as they often lack the technical and policy knowledge to develop their proposals further.

“We want to inspire people in Cambridgeshire to work for zero carbon streets in their communities and need to expand our team to provide the support they deserve.”

The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Independent Commission on Climate has made it clear that if action isn’t quickly taken to reach this target, global and local impacts will be severe and that the effects of climate change the UK faces – such as high temperatures, flooding and water shortages – will be particularly acute in our region.

Recent research has shown that if 10% of the UK population were to replace one car trip each day with a journey by cycle, overall transport emissions would decrease by about 10%.

Cambridgeshire residents can support the campaign for Zero Carbon Streets by donating to Camcycle via the Big Give Green Match Fund, which launches on Earth Day Thursday, April 22). Donations made between April 22 and 29 will be doubled, increasing the impact the charity can have on the county’s streets.

To support the campaign, visit www.camcycle.org.uk/zerocarbonstreets