Dudley Council is calling on residents to mark international Earth Day by going green on Monday 22 April.

People in Dudley can mark the day by undertaking simple actions such as walking to work or school, going vegan for a day, undertaking litter picks, planting wildflowers or trees in the garden, shopping more sustainably or switching to greener energy tariffs.

Dudley Council is undertaking actions to cut its carbon emissions including converting 30,000 streetlights to LED, installing 50 electric vehicle charging points across the borough and procuring electric quad bikes for street and green care.

The council has transferred its energy supply to a green energy tariff and its next phase of initiatives planned include the roll out of carbon literacy training to council staff and elected members, trialling paperless offices, and delivering biodiversity enhancements on council owned land.

Balvinder Heran, deputy chief executive at Dudley Council, said: “Earth Day is a global movement that highlights the need to reduce single use plastic, conserve natural habitats for wildlife and people (including planting more trees) and promotes the importance of educating future generations.

“Dudley Council declared a climate emergency in 2020 and today we are reminding our businesses, educators, community groups and residents, that any steps, no matter how small, can make a big difference when we work together.

“Our recently launched climate action plan explores how local businesses, organisations and residents can work together to make positive changes.”

Dudley Council is the first in the region to secure funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority for a Net Zero Neighbourhoods pilot.

This will see 300 homes sustainably retrofitted with loft, cavity and solid wall insulation, solar PV, electric vehicle street charging points, community food growing initiatives and nature-based solutions such as green roofs.