Political opinion: Labour leader calls for new Sussex authority to put climate resilience at heart of its plans

West Sussex Labour Leader Martin McCabe has called on the new Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority to put climate resilience at the heart of its plans, as support grows for a joined-up approach to tackling flooding, extreme heat and the wider impacts of climate change.

Cllr McCabe, who is also Worthing Borough Council's Cabinet Member for the Environment, has been advocating greater coordination between councils and public bodies across West Sussex, arguing that the challenges posed by climate change cannot be addressed effectively by individual authorities working in isolation.

His calls have now been reinforced by Lewes District Council, which has unanimously passed a motion calling for a coordinated approach to climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience across Sussex.

Following the motion, Lewes District Council Leader Cllr Zoe Nicholson wrote to the Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority, requesting a meeting of partner organisations to discuss developing a Strategic Climate Action Plan for Sussex.

The proposal would bring together councils and other public bodies to coordinate action on issues including public health, flood prevention, transport infrastructure, housing, community resilience and food and water security.

Cllr McCabe said: "Climate change doesn't stop at council boundaries, and neither should our response.

"I've been calling for a more joined-up approach to climate resilience across West Sussex because the challenges we're facing are simply too big, and too interconnected, for individual councils to tackle alone.

"Whether it's extreme heat, flooding, coastal erosion or the pressures climate change places on our health services and infrastructure, we need every level of government working together.

"I'm really pleased to see my approach gaining wider support, with Lewes District Council now calling for the same principle to be extended across the whole of Sussex.

"The creation of the Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority gives us a real opportunity to bring together the organisations responsible for tackling these challenges and develop a coordinated, long-term response.

"But we must make sure the new authority rises to that challenge. Climate resilience cannot be an afterthought. It needs to be embedded in the decisions we make about transport, infrastructure, economic development and the future of our communities."

Cllr McCabe has previously called for climate resilience measures to be coordinated through the West Sussex Joint Climate Change Board, recognising the important roles played by county, district and borough councils.

He has also highlighted practical environmental action already underway in Worthing, including the development of a new catchment-based approach to flood prevention, the expansion of the Worthing Heat Network and significant reductions in the councils' operational carbon emissions.

He continued: "In Worthing, we're already demonstrating what practical climate action looks like, from reducing emissions and developing cleaner energy to improving our approach to flood prevention.

"But local action needs to be supported by effective coordination at county and regional level.

"West Sussex County Council has major responsibilities for highways, drainage, public health, education and emergency preparedness. These are all areas where climate change is already creating challenges, and where better cooperation could make a real difference.

"We also need to recognise that reducing carbon emissions, while absolutely essential, is only part of the picture. We must prepare our communities for the impacts of climate change that are already happening.

"That means thinking seriously about how we protect vulnerable residents during extreme heat, reduce flood risks, safeguard our coastline and ensure our public services and infrastructure are resilient."

He concluded: "We already have considerable expertise and important work taking place across Sussex. What we need now is the leadership and coordination to bring it together.

"The new Strategic Authority has an opportunity to provide that leadership, working alongside councils, health services, emergency services and our communities.

"I want to see West Sussex at the forefront of that effort, helping to develop an ambitious, evidence-led climate action plan that delivers real benefits for residents.

"We have an opportunity to build climate resilience into the foundations of our new regional arrangements. We must not waste it."