Households in Preston urged to check for climate change letter

The River Ribble in flood at the Tickled Trout on Friday Pic: Angie Worrall — Flooding in the Preston area in October 2023. Pic: Angie Worrall

Over 6000 households in Preston have until Monday to register for the ‘Preston People’s Climate Jury’.

The randomly selected households across Preston will have received letters inviting them to register.

Hosted by Preston City Council, the climate jury members will be asked “How can we in Preston work together to address the opportunities and challenges of climate change in a way that is fair to everyone?”

They will work together over eight weeks, throughout sessions in February and March, developing recommendations to shape the city’s future and will be supported with costs including childcare and transport.

Members of the jury will hear from a range of experts, share their own views and come up with ideas for change.

Out of those who respond, 30 people who represent Preston’s diverse community and different attitudes to climate change will be chosen to take part. All participants will receive £330 in vouchers as a thank you.

The council will work with Shared Future, a not-for-profit community interest company and also have funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF), with the meetings taking place at Preston Town Hall and the University of Central Lancashire.

Cabinet member for climate change, Councillor Carol Henshaw said: “In 2019, we took the bold decision at the Council to declare a climate change emergency and set a goal of being carbon neutral by 2030.

“We are committed to driving the climate change agenda forward, but are equally determined that this is done in collaboration with local people, so we can be assured that the approach we take meets the needs and priorities of people in Preston.”

No previous experience or knowledge about climate change is needed and the households have been chosen completely at random.

Carol continued: “We’re looking for people with a whole different range of views and experiences – from those who are passionately concerned about climate change to those who are less concerned or feel they know little on the subject.

“The People’s Jury will be a really interesting experience for those who are chosen to be involved and I can’t wait to see it start and the recommendations that come from it.”

Subscribe: You can now opt-in to receive Blog Preston news updates through Whatsapp via this link.