Council notes:
 Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are
being felt around the world. Global temperatures have already increased by 1ºC from
pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm),
exceeding the 350 ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity;
 In order to reduce runaway Global Warming and limit effects of Climate Breakdown, it
is vital that we as a species reduce our CO2eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from
the current 6.5 tonnes per person per year to 2 tonnes or less as soon as possible;
 Individuals cannot be expected to achieve this reduction alone. Society needs to
change its laws, taxation, infrastructure, etc., to make low carbon living easier and
the new norm;
 Current plans and local actions are not enough. The world is on track to overshoot
the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050. The IPCC’s Special Report on Global
Warming of 1.5°C, published last year, describes the enormous harm that a 2°C rise
is likely to cause compared to a 1.5°C rise, and states that limiting Global Warming to
1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national
authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local
communities;
 Councils around the world are responding by declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and
committing resources to address this emergency.
Council endorses the view that:
 All governments, whether national, regional and local, have a duty to limit the
negative impacts of Climate Breakdown, and local governments that recognise this
should not wait for national governments to change their policies. It is important for
the residents of Corby and the UK that all settlements commit to carbon neutrality as
quickly as possible;
 Areas like Corby are well placed to lead in reducing carbon emissions, as they are in
many ways easier to decarbonise than rural areas – for example because of their
capacity for heat networks and mass transit;
 The consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are so severe that
preventing this from happening must be a shared global priority;
 Bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic
savings and market opportunities (as well as improved well-being for people
worldwide).
CBC commit to
 Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
 Call on Westminster to provide powers and resources to make the 2030 target
possible;
 Work with other governments (both within the UK and internationally) to determine
and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5°C;
 Continue to work with partners across the town and region to deliver this new goal
through all relevant strategies and plans;
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 End Council and Pension Fund investment in fossil fuels within three years;
 Report to Council within six months the actions that we will take to address this
emergency.
MOVER – Councillor Mark Pengelly
SECONDER – Councillor Judy Caine