What it is
The RBWM Climate Emergency Coalition (CEC) is a non-partisan alliance of community organisations in the Borough working in partnership to address the Climate and Environmental Emergency (C & E E) within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
The member groups of the CEC have a common purpose; to achieve Net-zero carbon and Nature recovery in our neighbourhood as quickly as possible. This is a complex challenge and requires a many-pronged approach, hence our member groups (known as partner organisations) have different areas of focus.
What its role is
The CEC’s role is to:
- Lobby the Council, on its coalition partners’ behalf, for rapid action to deliver against the common purpose.
- Provide a collective forum when a major local issue needs borough wide action.
- Increase awareness of the climate and environmental emergency by raising awareness and encouraging residents to join our partner organisations.
- Facilitate discussion and encourage membership of the CEC by appropriate community groups.
What it has done
The CEC was originally formed to convince the Council to declare an Environment and Climate Emergency. This was achieved on June 25th 2019.
It has:
- Persuaded the Council to include Sustainability as one of its priorities and to put in place a strategy and associated action plans to address the climate and environment emergency.
- Hosted “hustings” (candidate Q&A / debate events) for local and national elections focused on climate/environment issues, aiming to hold local politicians accountable for climate commitments
- Ensured policies for climate mitigation and adaptation were included in the Borough Local Plan.
- Pushed for the adoption of a Sustainability Supplementary Planning Document that sets a high bar for development in the borough.
Relationship with Council
- The Borough council (Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead) officially declared an Environment & Climate Emergency in June 2019.
- The Council’s declared goal is to achieve net zero carbon emissions in the Borough by 2050 at the latest.
- The CEC has argued for faster action where possible, noting that 2050 is a minimum target and that the borough’s carbon budget must not be exceeded.
- The council adopted an Environment and Climate Strategy in 2020.
Current Priority
- The council is currently updating the strategy for 2026 – 2035.
- The CEC seeks to ensure the strategy is ambitious, clear, transparent, and that residents’ input is listened to. It acts as a kind of watchdog, advocacy group, and conduit between its coalition partners and the council.
Who can join the CEC?
Any organisation which shares our common purpose to achieve Net-zero carbon and Nature recovery in our Neighbourhood as quickly as possible.
Why join the CEC?
As a coalition of partner organisations the CEC can influence the Council much more than any organisation is on its own. The larger the coalition the bigger influence the CEC will have.
Numbers: the collective membership is approximately 10,000 residents who are likely to have interests aligned with our common purpose. This provides a critical mass of allies when required.
Networks: the ability for the sum to be greater than the parts. Our networks both directly within our coalition partners and externally are extensive. This provides win win opportunities when addressing matters of collective interest.
Knowledge: our collective membership provides access to professional and personal knowledge, skills and expertise.
CEC Purpose and Constitution – click here