Agenda item

A motion regarding support of the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill is proposed by Councillor Pickering and seconded by Councillor Cornell.

Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which

are being felt in the UK and around the world. Global temperatures have increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm) and continue to rise. This far exceeds the 350 ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity.

Without more significant and sustained action, the world is set to exceed the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit between 2030 and 2040. Therefore the current UK target of net zero by 2050 is not satisfactory. It is too little too late.

The increase in harm caused by a rise of 2°C rather than 1.5°C is significant. This is described by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C published in October 2018. According to the IPCC, limiting heating to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector and local communities. The costs of failing to address this crisis will far outstrip the investments required to prevent it. Investing now will bring many benefits in the form of good jobs, breathable cities and thriving communities.

Council notes that

1.    This council has declared a climate and ecological emergency;

ii. There is a Bill before Parliament—the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (published as the “Climate and Ecology Bill”)—according to which the Government must develop an emergency strategy that:

1.    requires that the UK plays its fair and proper role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with limiting global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial temperatures;

2.    ensures that all the UK’s consumption emissions are accounted for;

3.    includes emissions from aviation and shipping;

4.    protects and restores biodiverse habitats along overseas supply chains;

5.    restores and regenerates the UK’s depleted soils, wildlife habitats and species populations to healthy and robust states, maximising their capacity to absorb CO2 and their resistance to climate heating;

6.    sets up an independent Citizens’ Assembly, representative of the UK’s population, to engage with Parliament and Government and help develop the emergency strategy.

Council therefore resolves to:

1.    Support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill

2.    Inform the local media of this decision;

3.    Write to local MPs, asking them to support or thanking them for supporting the Bill; and Write to the CEE Bill Alliance, the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, expressing its support (campaign@ceebill.uk).

Motion regarding support of the Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) Bill

The motion was presented by Councillor Pickering, who informed Members that this motion encouraged the government to move with the process and join in helping the Council, who were showing leadership as one of the local authorities leading on climate change, in delivering the targets set out in the Carbon Neutral 2030 Strategy. This needed to be done in partnership with citizens and business and the government must also play their part.

The motion was moved by Councillor Pickering and seconded by Councillor Cornell.

Councillor Rathor proposed a friendly amendment that the Council consider invoking a citizens’ assembly as part of the action around supporting the CEE bill. This was seconded by Councillor Kay, accepted by Councillors Pickering and Cornell, and confirmed by the Chair as a friendly amendment. Councillor Rathor gave further context about the magnitude of the task, and highlighted the requirement for human brilliance, speed, commitment, vision and togetherness. A citizens’ assembly would help facilitate this togetherness. So much more was needed than that which the Council could do alone.

Councillor Davies expressed opposition to the motion, despite the Conservative Members’ absolute commitment to the cause of climate change, because this was not considered part of the District Council’ business. The bill also mandated natural climate solutions at the exclusion of technological solutions such as direct air capture and carbon capture.

Councillor Whiteside spoke in favour of the motion, offering that it was necessary to work together to get this done, and quickly, and to do everything within the Council’s power to move this forward. The Council were already doing this within the 2030 Strategy and the Green group hoped that the government would support the Council all the way.

Councillor Cornell added that the CEE was quite a specific and extremely rigorous bill and councils across the country were being asked to support it. If the motion was agreed tonight, it would next be discussed with the local MP to ask for support. The bill had been written and informed by the top scientific and academic leaders in the UK. Our entire carbon footprint must now be considered and support for this bill would set a standard, as well being ambitious. The Labour group held to the importance that this would become law. It was good that the issues of climate and ecological emergency were being brought together in one place.

Councillor Pickering summed up and noted that motions like this are valuable. The example of the Climate Change Act 2008 was given, which started life as a private Members’ bill. If carried, this motion would provide an opportunity for the government to build upon it and a basis to develop legislation. It was important to act now and work together.

A further number of Councillors had left the meeting and did not vote on this item.

Upon the vote the motion, including the friendly amendment that the Council consider invoking a citizens’ assembly as part of the action around supporting the CEE bill, was carried with 25 votes for, 9 votes against and no abstentions.