Calderdale Green New Deal

29/04/2026

During March and April, we were out in our community asking people what matters most to them. This was part of a Friends of the Earth initiative to listen to people's cares and concerns with an aim to amplify them to those who seek to represent us.

We carried out surveys in central Halifax, Park Ward and Elland, in person and online and, based on the responses we have put the following key questions to council candidates:

👉🏻How will your candidates ensure people in their ward are paying less for their energy bills next winter? 64% of homes in Calderdale are poorly insulated (EPC D or below), and 15% are in energy poverty

👉🏼What action will your candidates take to reduce air pollution in the Calder Valley? All districts have air pollution levels higher than WHO recommendations, and 10% of the population suffers from respiratory diseases

👉🏽What will your candidates do to make public transport more reliable, accessible and affordable? Better public transport would reduce private car use, making roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians and reducing air pollution. 25% of households in Calderdale are without a car. A large majority of our respondents expressed frustration at inadequate bus services and poor reliability.

👉🏾How will your candidates’ actions on the Council draw diverse communities together and foster healthy community relationships? Many of our respondents wanted action to make communities more resilient and cohesive.

👉🏿What is the stance of your party’s candidates on the Calderdale Energy Park? If the development does go ahead, what benefits will your candidates secure for local people from the development and how will they ensure the biodiversity, peatland and local wildlife are protected? This is a highly contested issue, especially in the Upper Valley.

We will share the responses with you when we receive them so watch this space ...

18/04/2026

There was a great response to our Love Our Rivers action in Hebden Bridge today. 💙🐟😍

We were celebrating the value of rivers and waterways for recreation, mental health, biodiversity, climate change and everything else they offer us.

The choir sang, the Ukulele orchestra played and sang watery songs, Alan read some watery poems. People were fascinated by the river invertebrates the Calder Rivers Trust had collected. Many tried out the canoeing machine brought by Halifax Canoe Club. Children were helped to make paper boats to sail on the paddling pool. And grown-ups were asked to write to their MP demanding the new water bill delivers clean water in rivers and our taps now! If you missed us and would like to contact your MP too then check out the link in the comments

Thanks to everyone who came along!

24/01/2026

👋🏻👋🏾👋🏿Please join us on Saturday 7th March, 10am -4pm at Mytholmroyd Community Centre for a day of Anti-Racism training for a stronger Climate Justice Movement. 👋🏻👋🏾👋🏿

An interactive session to explore the intersection between climate justice and racial justice, and learn how to embed anti-racism into climate campaigns for lasting impact.

No charge, please sign up using the link.

🚌 Easy access by bus and train, and free parking available - please try to car-share.

This interactive session provides practical skills and fresh thinking to help create climate campaigning rooted in equality and justice.

22/01/2026

This week the government quietly published a 'Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security assessment'.

Meant to be out last year, but rumoured to be blocked by Number 10, it seems to have been quietly released on a busy news week...

The judgements are stomach-churning.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nature-security-assessment-on-global-biodiversity-loss-ecosystem-collapse-and-national-security

13/12/2025

What gifts might a greener Christmas bring to you and your kin?

Warm homes, affordable renewable energy, green jobs, clean air & better health, better public transport, traffic-free cycle lanes & walking routes biodiversity & nature, long-term food security.

Today we were out in Halifax talking to people about the benefits of taking climate action. We sang rousing renditions of We wish you a greener Christmas' and other Eco-carols.

🎄🤶🎁 🎄🤶🎁 🎄🤶🎁 🎄🤶🎁

15/11/2025

Today people across the world have taken to the streets as part of a global day of climate action during COP30.

Representatives from Calderdale Green New Deal headed to Leeds to march for climate justice, in solidarity with all those around the world facing the repercussions of climate chaos and ecocide.

There have already been too many avoidable deaths as a direct result of the changes to the climate. Here in the UK, tackling the cost of living and tackling the climate crisis go hand in hand, and urgent action is affordable if we make the richest pay.

23/08/2025

Thanks so much to everyone who stopped to chat with us today in Hebden Bridge at our Take Back Our Water stall.

If you missed us or if we had run out of leaflets when you got to us, here’s what our leaflet said including a couple of things you can do.

See you in September

23/08/2025

Clean water is a basic human right but rather than providing a service, private water companies are driven by profit. We need to renationalise our water companies.

We’re in Hebden Bridge today until 2pm* today. Come along and net a nasty and find out what you can do to help.

(*EDIT: Thank you to everyone who came and chatted today. We had such great conversations. We have run out of leaflets so are finishing and tidying up now rather than 2pm. Sorry if we missed you but do come down and check out the amazing busker who has been keeping us entertained)