[Chellce] Now I'm going to hand you over for a formal open now from Councillor Sheila Bailey. She's the Cabinet member for Sustainable Stockport. A massive hello, Sheila. [Cllr Bailey] Hello, Chellce. Good morning! Can you hear me OK? [Chellce] We can hear you absolutely fine, Sheila, yes. [Cllr Bailey] Excellent. Okay. Well I would just like to first of all, on behalf of Stockport Council, welcome everybody to Stockport's first climate change summit. And it's very appropriate that this is being held during the COP26 conference while climate change is being given greater media attention than it ever has. Whilst our remit in Stockport is somewhat smaller geographically, the impact we can have is global in as much as everything we do here in Stockport contributes to the overall aim of reducing emissions and giving the planet, our very beautiful planet, a future. Conferences and summits are necessary to raise awareness and gather collective support for a shared goal. Pledges are also important, but what is actually happening is far more important. Whether action follows, whether the promises are kept, and whether those not yet at the table ultimately decide to play their part. The world can only spend so much time in the Last Chance Saloon before the closing signs go up and the doors are closed. Stockport unanimously declared a climate emergency in 2019 and has produced and published a Climate Action Now strategy backed by a comprehensive work plan that is already being actioned. A great deal has been done. Over 17,000 trees have been planted, with more planned in parks and along our highways, and new woodlands and orchards. Currently, over 90% of council housing stock has an Energy Performance Certificate rating of C or above, and 40% have a renewable energy supply. The council has almost completed a programme of replacing all its street and decorative lighting with LED bulbs, giving an estimated 40% energy saving. £5.6 million from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme has been allocated to improve the council's own buildings. I would at this point like to take the opportunity to thank all council officers who have worked very hard to get us to this point. But we all know that there is much more to do. The CAN strategy is a working document that will sit alongside everything we do, and can be changed, added to or amended as and when necessary. In line with the whole of Greater Manchester, we have a target of carbon neutrality by 2038. The CAN strategy is ambitious and comprehensive, and work is now currently underway to create governance and monitoring indicators so that we can match these ambitions against the progress being made. We need to know that we are making a difference, but the council can't do this alone. Much will be said today about how we can all be part of the challenge facing us, so that our planet, and all living things, have a future. We'll talk today about carbon budgets, greenhouse gases, sustainable travel and renewable energy amongst many other issues. And underlying all of this, and the reason we have to act, is that we all rely on a massively complex web of biodiversity that supports everything on this planet that lives. Some biologists estimate that 35% of animals and plant life could become extinct in the wild by 2050. That would affect us all. But if we can sufficiently reduce greenhouse gas emissions, many of them still have a chance to survive and recover. That is why what we're doing today is so vitally important. It's not just about us. It's about every living thing that shares this planet with us. I can do no better than quote David Attenborough, one of my heroes, I have to say, when he spoke at the COP26 conference recently, "Our burning of fossil fuels, our destruction of nature, our approach to industry, construction and learning, are releasing carbon into the atmosphere at an unprecedented pace and scale. We are already in trouble and those who have done the least to cause this problem are being the hardest hit. If working apart, we are a force powerful enough to destabilise our planet, surely working together, we are powerful enough to save it." This summit is about working together, cooperating, collaborating. It's about joining together as many people, businesses, schools and community groups as possible, to do as much as possible, to make as much impact as possible, in order to help secure for Stockport, for the UK, and ultimately for the planet, because it's the only one we've got. Today we're launching the Stockport Climate Action Now Fund to support residents, communities and schools to take action on climate change. Grants from £100 to £500 will be available for small projects that help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Stockport. This is an opportunity for just a few neighbours to get together to make a difference or for schools or for community groups. And we all can. Details about this will be on the council's webpage. I hope you enjoy listening to all the great works that are already being done, the determination that is already evident, and all the enthusiasm shown particularly by young people, because it's their future that's at stake. The goal is set. The need to meet it - unquestionable. The consequences of not doing so - catastrophic. Our planet needs every single one of us. We all need to rise to the challenge and I am absolutely certain that Stockport CAN. Thank you.