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Councillor Taylor proposed the following motion:

“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 Newcastle and the UK that all settlements commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible;

· Urban areas like Newcastle 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).

Council calls on Cabinet to:

· Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’

· Update the 2010 Newcastle Declaration on Climate Change by pledging to make Newcastle upon Tyne carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions;

· Call on Westminster to provide powers and resources to make the2030 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 city and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans;

· End Council and TWPF investment in fossil fuels within three years

· Report to Council within six months the actions the Cabinet will take to address this emergency.”