Salford shoppers have shared their concerns of the recent climate abandonment by the United States and said it feels like a ‘horror movie’.
The concerns follow President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement – a legally binding international treaty that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.
Nearly 200 nations committed to curbing greenhouse gas emissions, bending the global emissions curve, and striving to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Following the decision to pull away from the climate change agreement, Salford residents have shared their concerns for the planet.
As Carrie and Hannah, a mother and daughter living in Eccles described cutting down on carbon emissions as non-negotiable.
Mum Carrie, interviewed on International Reducing Carbon Emissions day, said she was particularly concerned about the future of the environment.
She said: “Sometimes I feel like we are in a bit of a horror movie where everybody can see the comets coming for Earth, but nobody’s telling anybody, or nobody believes it.
“The new presidency in the United States has obviously moved us further away from the Paris Agreement. I think other countries and nations will follow suit, because they don’t feel obliged to do anything about it.”
Audrey, a resident of Eccles, said her focus was surrounding the air quality: “Cleaner air is better for everyone, people with COPD or asthma.”
And she insisted that she makes the effort to make the planet cleaner, she said: “I do all the recycling, everything is recycled to my knowledge. I always look and check the packages.”
Audrey added that she didn’t drive and preferred to use public transport or walk to get around.
Local resident Peter, 74, echoed Audrey’s sentiment, but highlighted the improvements over time, he said: “Years ago, it was all coal fires, it’s better now, we got rid of all that.
“But there’s still too many cars on the road. I don’t drive myself, so I walk lots.”
Another resident, Vicky, seemed slightly less enthusiastic about the situation, she said: “I don’t really follow it that well, which is probably really ignorant of me, but I don’t.
“I just think it’s a tomorrow problem, which is a really ignorant view. I get that, but also I don’t really know, because I don’t know enough about it.
“I just think that there’s a lot of talk and a lot of investments, and nothing seems to be changing.”
The concerns to the planet follow 28 January, International Reducing Carbon Emissions Day, and the people of Salford are divided on how major the issue of climate change is, and what can be done to combat it, both from home and from the government.
In recent years, Salford City Council has felt obliged to continue fighting climate change and improving the city’s environmental impact.
In the 2019 Greater Manchester Green Summit, it was decided that Greater Manchester would try to be carbon neutral by 2038, and in July 2019 Salford Council declared a “climate emergency.”
According to Salford Council’s breakdown of their climate impact, between 2008 and 2018, emissions within the council’s area dropped by 41%.
In 2019, the council was named the North West’s most sustainable council by Friends of the Earth, and the Centre for thriving places awarded the council the title of the “greenest and most sustainable” in England and Wales.
And although improvements are being made to make sure that Salford and Greater Manchester continue to get greener – the effort needs to be made by all.
More information about the City Council’s efforts to tackle climate change can be found here.
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