Climate emergency has been declared in North Tyneside amid a demonstration from environmental campaigners who say more needs to be done.

At Thursday’s full council meeting, North Tyneside Council voted to join Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead and Sunderland in declaring a climate emergency.

The motion

1. notes the significant progress made to date by the Authority in reducing carbon dioxide emissions;

2. agrees that the Authority:

a. declares a climate emergency;

b. seeks to halve the Authority’s and the Borough’s carbon footprint by 2023, four years ahead of the current target;

c. commits that itself and Borough will be carbon neutral by 2050 in line with the national target; and

3. notes that Cabinet will receive an update report within six months.

4. requests the Elected Mayor to instruct the Head of Environment, Housing and Leisure, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport to:

a. publish an annual report on the Authority’s website that details performance against carbon reduction targets;

b. include young people in the development, delivery and review of actions, ensuring that they have a voice in shaping the future;

c. work with partners across the Borough and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans;

d. call on Central Government to provide powers and resources to reduce carbon emissions;

e. ensure that all strategic decisions, budgets and approaches to planning decisions are in line with this climate emergency declaration; and

f. ensure that the Authority Senior Leadership Team embed carbon reduction work across the Authority and take responsibility for reducing, as rapidly as possible, the carbon emissions resulting from the Authority’s activities.