Motion 1: Green
Motion to declare a Climate Emergency
Full Council notes:
1. 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;
2. In order to reduce the chance of runaway Global Warming and limit the effects of Climate Breakdown,
it is imperative that we 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; [1]
3. 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;
4. Carbon emissions result from both production and consumption;
5. 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; [2], [3]
6. In Lambeth, the consequences of inaction to address this emergency will include:
 Increased risk of flooding and damage to buildings and infrastructure.
 Health problems, particularly for children, the disabled and older people.
 Higher energy and food costs.
 Increases in social injustice and inequality.
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7. The IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, published in October, 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 sub-national
authorities, civil society, the private sector and local communities; [3]
8. Councils around the world, including Bristol, Brighton & Hove and Stroud, have responded by
declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and committing resources to address this emergency.[4]
Full Council believes that:
1. Central government guidelines to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 is not a sufficiently urgent
response.
2. 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 Lambeth, London and the UK that councils
commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible
3. Cities are uniquely placed to lead the world 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.
4. The consequences of global temperatures rising above 1.5°C are so severe that preventing this from
happening must be humanity’s number one priority.
5. Bold climate action can deliver economic and social benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings,
market opportunities and improved health and well-being.
Full Council calls on the Leader of the Council to:
1. Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
2. Pledge to work to make the Borough of Lambeth carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both
production and consumption emissions
3. Call on Westminster and the London Mayor to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030
target possible;
4. Work with other Local Authorities (within London and across the UK) to determine and implement best
practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5°C;
5. Continue to work with partners across the borough and beyond to deliver this new goal through all
relevant strategies and plans;
6. Create a non-partisan Task and Finish group that includes members and officers, which will report to
Full Council within six months with actions for the Council to take to address this climate emergency.
Council resolves:
1. To call on central Government to provide additional powers and resources to support local and
national action towards the 2030 target.
2. To pledge to do everything within the Council’s power to make Lambeth carbon neutral by 2030
3. To implement the report from the Task and Finish Group in 6 months time, to set out a plan of action,
including clear targets and transparent reporting in line with the Paris Agreement to limit global
warming to 1.5C
4. To include planning and support in the borough for adaptation to the climate change that is already
happening
5. To develop a strategy for Lambeth Council to play a leadership role in promoting community, public
and business partnerships for this Carbon Neutral 2030 commitment throughout Lambeth
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6. To work with partner bodies across Lambeth and London to ensure the climate emergency is
adequately reflected in the development and implementation of all borough wide strategies and plans
including Transport and Local plans.
7. To work with key partner organisations to investigate all possible sources of external funding to
support this commitment
8. To provide an annual report on progress made.
Amendment 1: Labour:
Motion to declare a Climate Emergency
Full Council notes:
1. 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;
2. In order to reduce the chance of runaway Global Warming and limit the effects of Climate Breakdown,
it is imperative that we 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; [1]
3. Individuals cannot be expected to and collective action is needed 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;
4. Carbon emissions result from both production and consumption;
5. 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; [2], [3]
6. In Lambeth, the consequences of government inaction to address this emergency will include:
 Increased risk of flooding and damage to buildings and infrastructure.
 Health problems, particularly for children, the disabled and older people.
 Higher energy and food costs.
 Increases in social injustice and inequality.
7. The IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, published in October, 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 sub-national
authorities, civil society, the private sector and local communities; [3]
8. This administration has shown leadership by being one of the first local authorities to set out a
clear plan to divest their pension portfolio from carbon intensive fossil fuel assets.
9. This council has already taken bold steps towards carbon neutrality, including changing street
lights to LED alternatives; reducing council offices from 14 buildings to two; changing our
parks maintenance fleet to electric vehicles and prioritising greener and healthier transport
methods in our draft Transport Strategy.
10. The council is also working with local organisations, such as Repowering London, to build
community energy projects; building new, high-quality, energy-efficient council homes
through Homes for Lambeth and is continuing to lobby for the Ultra Low Emission Zone to be
extended across the borough.
811. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and Councils around the world, including Bristol, Brighton &
Hove and Stroud, have responded by declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and committing resources to
address this emergency.[4]
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Full Council believes that:
1. Central government guidelines to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 is not a sufficiently urgent
response.
2. 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 Lambeth, London and the UK that councils
commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible
3. Cities are uniquely placed to lead the world 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.
4. The consequences of global temperatures rising above 1.5°C are so severe that preventing this from
happening must be humanity’s number one priority.
5. Bold climate action can deliver economic and social benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings,
market opportunities and improved health and well-being.
Full Council calls on the Leader of the Council resolves to:
1. Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
2. Pledge to work to make the Borough of Lambeth carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both
production and consumption emissions
3. Call on Westminster to address their chronic lack of action and funding for carbon reduction
initiatives by and the London Mayor to provide providing the powers and resources to the Mayor of
London and local authorities to make the 2030 target possible;
4. Continue to work with other Local Authorities (within London and across the UK) to determine and
implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5°C;
5. Continue to work with partners across the borough and beyond to deliver this new goal through all
relevant strategies and plans;
6. Create a non-partisan Task and Finish group that includes members and officers, which will report to Full
Council within six months with actions for the Council to take to address this climate emergency.
Council resolves:
1. To call on central Government to provide additional powers and resources to support local and
national action towards the 2030 target.
2. To pledge to do everything within the Council’s power to make Lambeth carbon neutral by 2030
3. To implement the report from the Task and Finish Group in 6 months time, to set out a plan of action,
including clear targets and transparent reporting in line with the Paris Agreement to limit global
warming to 1.5C
4. To include continue our planning and support in the borough for adaptation to the climate change
that is already happening
5. To develop a strategy for Lambeth Council to play a leadership role in promoting community, public
and business partnerships for this Carbon Neutral 2030 commitment throughout Lambeth
6. To continue to work with partner bodies across Lambeth and London to ensure the climate
emergency is adequately reflected in the development and implementation of all borough wide
strategies and plans including Transport and Local plans.
7. To continue to work with key partner organisations to investigate all possible sources of external
funding to support this commitment
8. To draw up a Climate Change Action Plan and provide an annual report on progress made