THE formal commitment of the council and partner organisations in the city to the One Planet York initiative is a very positive step forward.

I would like to applaud the hard work of officers who have brought it this far and encourage other organisations, individuals and businesses to get involved.

It has always been key to Green Party policies that while we only have one precious planet, we are busily using up resources as if we had three, while creating far too many dangerous climate-changing emissions.

Urgent action is needed, so I hope the initiative will include tackling the bigger issues, for example bold measures to improve air quality and reduce traffic levels, perhaps a car-free city centre and better (rather than worse) evening and weekend bus services; a leading zero carbon development for York Central; a city wide insulation programme to tackle fuel poverty; and a visionary economic strategy with environmental sustainability at its heart.

One Planet York is a call to everyone in York to play their part in turning this situation around – and incidentally protecting and improving quality of life in our beautiful city in the process.

Cllr Denise Craghill, Green Party councillor for Guildhall ward, Broadway West, York