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(a) Climate Emergency
Moved by Councillor S. Neville and seconded by Councillor J. Philip
“That the Council notes that:
i. humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of
which are being felt around the world. Global temperatures have already
increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric
CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm). This far exceeds the 350-
ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity;
ii. in order to reduce the chance of runaway Global Warming and limit the
effects of Climate Breakdown, it is imperative that we as a species reduce our
CO2eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes per
person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible;
iii. individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society
needs to change its laws, taxation, infrastructure, etc., to make low carbon
living easier and the new norm;
iv. carbon emissions result from both production and consumption;
v. Epping Forest District Council has already shown foresight when it comes to
addressing the issue of Climate Breakdown, having signed the Nottingham
Declaration on Climate Change, written an Environment Sustainability Policy
and Action Plan, and have worked to use renewable energy and energy
efficiency and have had a Green Working Party driving the agenda for some
years;
vi. unfortunately, our current plans and actions are not enough. The world is on
track to overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050;
vii. the IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, published in the
autumn of 2018, describes the enormous harm that a 2°C rise is likely to
cause compared to a 1.5°C rise, and told us that limiting Global Warming to
1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and subnational authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and
local communities;
viii. councils and Parliaments around the world are responding by declaring a
‘Climate Emergency’ and committing resources to address this emergency;
That the Council believes that:
ix. all governments (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 their national governments to change their policies. It is
important for the residents of Epping Forest District and the UK that local
authorities commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible;
x. the consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are so severe
that preventing this from happening must be humanity’s number one priority;
xi. 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); and
That the Council resolves to:
xii. declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
xiii. pledge to do everything within the Council’s power to make Epping Forest
District Council area carbon neutral by 2030;
xiv. call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030
target possible;
xv. 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;
xvi. continue to work with partners across the district and region to deliver this
new goal through all relevant strategies and plans;
xvii. in the special circumstances of this district, resolves to protect the Special
Area of Conservation through the Local Plan and every other means; and
xviii. implement an Air Quality Strategy and bring forward sustainability guidance
on planning.”
Amendment moved by Councillor H. Whitbread and seconded by Councillor S.
Neville
“ That the Council engage with young people when considering the issue of climate
change and appoint a ‘Youth Ambassador’ from the Epping Forest Youth Council.”
Carried
Motion as amended ADOPTED
RESOLVED:
That the Council notes that:
(i) humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of
which are being felt around the world. Global temperatures have already
increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric
CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm). This far exceeds the
350-ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity;
(ii) in order to reduce the chance of runaway Global Warming and limit the
effects of Climate Breakdown, it is imperative that we as a species reduce
our CO2eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes
per person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible;
(iii) individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own.
Society needs to change its laws, taxation, infrastructure, etc., to make
low carbon living easier and the new norm;
(iv) carbon emissions result from both production and consumption;
(v) Epping Forest District Council has already shown foresight when it comes
to addressing the issue of Climate Breakdown, having signed the
Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change, written an Environment
Sustainability Policy and Action Plan, and have worked to use renewable
energy and energy efficiency and have had a Green Working Party driving
the agenda for some years;
(vi) unfortunately, our current plans and actions are not enough. The world is
on track to overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050;
(vii) the IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, published in the
autumn of 2018, describes the enormous harm that a 2°C rise is likely to
cause compared to a 1.5°C rise, and told us that limiting Global Warming
to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and subnational authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples
and local communities;
(viii) councils and Parliaments around the world are responding by
declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and committing resources to address this
emergency;
That the Council believes that:
(ix) all governments (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 their national governments to change
their policies. It is important for the residents of Epping Forest District and
the UK that local authorities commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as
possible;
(x) the consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are so severe
that preventing this from happening must be humanity’s number one
priority;
(xi) bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs,
economic savings and market opportunities (as well as improved wellbeing for people worldwide); and
That the Council resolves to:
(xii) declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
(xiii) pledge to do everything within the Council’s power to make Epping
Forest District Council area carbon neutral by 2030;
(xiv) call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the
2030 target possible;
(xv) 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;
(xvi) continue to work with partners across the district and region to deliver
this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans;
(xvii) in the special circumstances of this district, resolves to protect the
Special Area of Conservation through the Local Plan and every other
means;
(xviii) implement an Air Quality Strategy and bring forward sustainability
guidance on planning; and
(xix) engage with young people when considering the issue of climate
change and appoint a ‘Youth Ambassador’ from the Epping Forest Youth
Council.”
