Notice of Motion: Declaration of a Climate Emergency and Call to Action on Local Energy
This Council notes the IPPC Panel report on Global warming predicts severe impacts to health, home and environment, with the severe floods of October 2019 and February 2020 endangering Powys communities, clearly demonstrating that we are ill prepared for the challenges we face as a Council.
This Council notes that by declaring a climate emergency, councils are demonstrating their collective leadership and signifying the urgency which, as a publicly accountable body, they place on tackling climate change and decarbonising the economy as required by The Environment (Wales) Act 2016.
This Council notes that by supporting the Local Electricity Bill the council will remove the barriers to local energy supply, and could lead by example in reducing its corporate carbon footprint by using our farm estate to become a local renewable electricity provider, whilst also supporting communities to find innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint and invest in, and support, their community facilities.
This Council notes Fay Jones’ MP commitment to the cross-party effort to have the Local Electricity Bill passed into law, helping Councils kick-start a local energy revolution which has the potential to reduce Powys’ carbon footprint once and for all whilst distributing the benefits to local communities perpetually.
This Council therefore resolves to:
1. Join with other councils across Wales in declaring a Climate Emergency
2. Support the implementation of Prosperity for All: A Low Carbon Wales (March 2019) to make Powys County Council a net zero carbon local authority by 2030.
3. Request the Leader consider assigning roles within the cabinet to lead on Climate Change mitigation and to actively engage with all members and stakeholders by: A. setting up a cross-party working group and, B. establishing a Powys-wide multi-stakeholder group, to develop a baseline picture @2020 and bring forward a strategy and action plan @2021 for a truly sustainable Powys.
4. Support our MPs to ensure the Local Electricity Bill succeeds in an Adjournment Debate to encourage and enable the local supply of electricity and facilitate more resilient Powys communities.
5. Ask Welsh and UK Governments to provide the necessary support and resources to enable effective carbon reductions and transition to a green Powys economy.
couldnt PCC make up a booklet or magazine post it through tenants doors highlighting greenhouse effect and basic details and what people can do in their homes? For instance i am doing my washing by hand just spinning it in my washer then hanging washing out to dry more often avoiding using washing machine and dryer. Just using my dryer for bedding and denim jeans etc. Having rack built on my upstairs landing ceiling with pulley to hang washing to dry on wet days. one of the things women can do who would if they knew. other things like buying recycled toilet paper. eco detergents and garden products. All make a difference. planting trees and plants in your garden and making them kind to insects. avoiding use of shingles and making your own gardens eco friendly! Just some of the things people can do.
Couldn’t agree more we all need to do our bit. Every bit helps, having a shower for five minutes instead of ten minutes, not buying water in plastic bottles, not running the tap when brushing your teeth. I am looking forward to moving from Essex to Powys in 4.5 years once I retire from work. I want to move to an outstanding place of beauty where as a community we learn to look after it. Look at STOP 1T on face book and join the debate.