The follow motion was passed:
NOTICE OF MOTION UNDER RULE 11
To consider the following motion signed by Councillors M. A . Thomson and
Husband:-
Climate Emergency 2019
Council confirms that we are facing a climate emergency.
Council acknowledges that climate change is occurring, that man-made
greenhouse gas emissions are a primary cause and that climate change will
continue to have far reaching effects on people and places, the economy, society
and environment in the Borough, across the UK and across the world.
Council now urges government to recognise this urgency and to work with local
authorities, health services, businesses, consumers, farmers, educational
institutions and all other interested bodies to reduce to net zero as quickly as
possible our carbon emissions and their equivalents.
Council notes:
The intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 1.5ºC special report which
provides, with sobering clarity, the evidence of the impact of climate change.
The wider acknowledgement from some bodies that there is a 50% chance of a
2ºC rise by the end of this century.
The World Meteorological Organisation in their annual bulletin (November 2018)
state that carbon dioxide levels hit new highs of 405.5 parts per million (ppm) in
2017, up to 403.3 ppm in 2016 and 400.1 ppm in 2015.
The UN Gap Report published before the COP24 in Poland in December 2018,
reminding us that the Paris Agreement targets are off track.
UK Met Office’s 2018 Prediction offering an assessment of what we can expect to
experience – higher sea levels, rise in temperatures, disrupted rainfall patterns,
and as we have seen recently, flooding, overheating and torrential unpredicted
rain.
Climate Change Policy and Action Plan
Council declares a climate emergency and confirms that it is committed to
reducing its carbon emissions and will establish a working group comprising
Members, Officers and other interested parties to look at all areas of policy and
delivery. A Climate Change Policy and Action Plan will be developed to
demonstrate and clarify our position and ambitions and will be reported to Council
in Autumn 2019.
