Tuesday was an historic day for Cambridgeshire. Liberal Democrats Lucy Nethsingha and Lorna Dupre were confirmed Leader and Deputy Leader of the County Council, I became Chair of the Environment and Green Investment Committee and other roles on the council were confirmed.

Liberal Democrats have taken the key leadership roles. Chris Boden, Conservative, takes on the scrutiny function Chairing the Audit Committee.

Chair of the Environment and Green Investment Committee is an exciting and challenging role and I have already started working with the team. Here are some of this committee’s functions.

Leading the councils response to net zero and nature recovery

This is both through reducing CO2 emissions and increasing nature. The Council is committed to getting it’s own emissions to net zero by 2030 and the county’s by 2045.

Responding to the impacts of climate change

Flood, drought, extreme heat and emergency weather events are on the rise. Planning, managing and lobbying for Cambridgeshire to get the resources it needs sits here.

Water run off from Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire flow into Cambridgeshire. It is expected that Earith, Sutton Gault, and Welney bridge will be closed due to flooding for months every year. Across the broader fens area which includes South Lincolnshire, North West Norfolk and most of Cambridgeshire 4000 flood defences are needed 24/7 to stop the low lying land reverting to wet fen. Many of the pumps will reach the end of their working lives in the next 20-30 years, £4.5 billion is needed to retain the status quo, without taking into account the impact of climate change. Current funding rules will give us half that. We need to lobby government for more but also have a plan to manage the place where we live with the money we actually receive. The Environment Agency is leading this work but the county council are partners and as politicians we need to ensure we are speaking up for the needs of Cambridgeshire.

At the same time we are witnessing an attack on funding for climate change and net zero by right wing populist parties. A reduction in funding for climate change poses an existential risk to the place where we live, without extra funding parts of Cambridgeshire will flood.

Disposal of waste and household recycling centres sits in this committee.

How we manage waste is critical to how we live our lives and how we reach net zero, it’s also an area I am passionate about and can discuss for hours with a sparkle in my eye and joy in my stride.

This committee deals with a range of other areas, including responses to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects such as moving the sewage works and East West Rail. Connecting Cambridgeshire the organisation tasked with getting all households and businesses connected to fibre and managing the Digital Voice process where the copper telephone wires will be switched off by Spring 2027. We are also investing in a team to support community energy projects which is an exciting new development which will help deliver affordable renewable energy schemes.

The challenge is immense and I look forward to bringing updates on what we achieve.