COMMUNITIES across the borough have been inspired by Basingstoke Green Week to take new action and reduce their emissions in the fight against climate change.

The 10th Basingstoke Green Week, which was supported by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and took place from Saturday, September 24 to Sunday, October 2, saw residents invited to enjoy a wide range of activities and events to help celebrate action across the borough to address climate change and protect nature.

This included an electric vehicle showroom event and opportunities to trial e-bikes, as well as repair cafés, green markets, talks on sustainability issues, live entertainment and creative arts and crafts using recycling, to inspire residents to think about how they could reduce their carbon footprints.

SEE ALSO: Basingstoke Foodbank trustee sad there is still a need for centre in town as it marks 10 years

To encourage communities to take this action beyond Green Week, residents were also able to make a pledge for actions they would take in the future to reduce their emissions both online and on a pledge tree made entirely from recycled materials by local artist Junk Jodie.

Cabinet member for environment and climate action Cllr Hayley Eachus said: “So far more than 160 people have made a pledge for how they are going to change their behaviours to help fight climate change, with their commitments together adding up to over 30,000 kilograms of yearly carbon savings. That’s the same amount captured by 1,500 trees growing for a year, or equivalent to permanently taking 15 diesel cars off the road.

“We can all play our part in the fight against climate change and small changes do add up to a big difference. With the average pledge saving around 190 kilograms of carbon, if one in four of us made a pledge we could reduce yearly emissions across our borough by over 8.7 million kilograms of carbon.”

READ MORE: M3 traffic chaos as road users see delays of up to 60 minutes this morning due to incidents

Residents can take a look at a list of suggested pledges and make their commitment either on the pledge tree in the council offices, which will remain in place until Friday, October 14, or online on the website for community group Amazingstoke and North Hampshire Saves the World at saves-the-world.com.