Stourbridge Climate Action and Friends of the Earth Stourbridge have launched a joint petition calling on Dudley Council to take urgent action on the climate emergency and make the borough more resilient to extreme heat, wildfire and flooding.
The devastating fires in Stourbridge and the surrounding areas this summer raise serious questions about whether these risks were properly anticipated and prepared for.
Heatwaves have also been linked to excess deaths across England, so we need to protect residents from increasingly dangerous temperatures.
We are asking Dudley Council to:
- Review the risks now. Immediately review wildfire, extreme heat and flooding risks across the borough with the relevant government authorities, the fire and rescue service, public health bodies and other partners. This should include an assessment of gaps in how these risks were anticipated and prepared for in the past.
- Put a funded plan in place before the next heatwave. A Climate Adaptation and Emergency Preparedness plan to reduce fire risks and protect residents, particularly the most vulnerable, from heat-related illness and avoidable deaths. It must cover wildfire prevention, overheating in homes and care settings, public warnings, access to cool spaces and support for residents at risk. It must also reduce flood risks and protect homes, green spaces and essential services.
- Publish a borough-wide Climate Action and Resilience plan in early 2027, with clear responsibilities, funding, deadlines and measurable targets for cutting carbon emissions and adapting to climate change.
- Keep engaging with the community through an ongoing programme with residents, local businesses and environmental organisations to raise awareness, support practical action and cut emissions in line with the Council’s published net-zero commitments.
- Report progress every quarter in accessible reports for all residents, setting out what has been done, what has been spent, measurable results and any delays, together with the steps being taken to address them.
Dudley Council declared a climate emergency in 2020. This petition asks it to turn that declaration into a funded, accountable plan.
The petition closes on 30 November 2026. Every signature strengthens the case, so please sign and share it with friends, family and neighbours across Dudley Borough.
