This Council notes the ‘Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’, (October 2018), which found that:

Human-induced global warming has already caused multiple observed changes in the climate system which include more frequent heatwaves in most land regions, an increase in the frequency and duration of marine heatwaves and an increase in the frequency, intensity and/or amount of heavy precipitation events at the global scale.

Human activity related global warming reached approximately 1°C above pre-industrial levels in 2017, and is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052.

A 1.5°C rise will result in multiple negative impacts, including increases in frequency, intensity and/or amount of heavy precipitation in several regions, and the majority (70–90%) of warm water (tropical) coral reefs that exist today will disappear.

A further increase to 2°C rise will result in much more severe harm, including a greater risk of water scarcity in some regions and increased frequency of severe weather events, droughts, floods, higher sea level rises, crop failures and destruction of land and marine eco-systems with the loss of 99% of tropical coral reefs.

With current strategies, the world is on track to overshoot the 1.5°C limit of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Paris Agreement before 2050 and exceed 3°C by 2100.

Limiting global warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from local and national government, organisations and businesses, and local people and their communities.

This Council further notes:

The commitment of the administration to deliver its Well-being Goals as set out in the Corporate Plan ‘Strong Communities with a Bright Future’ and the Well-being of Future Generations Act, and the progress of initiatives in support of the existing Carbon Management Plan.

That bold action to reduce carbon emissions can also deliver benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities.

This Council therefore resolves to:

1. Join with Welsh Government and other councils across the UK in declaring a global ‘climate emergency’ in response to the findings of the IPCC report.

2. Reduce its own carbon emissions to net zero before the Welsh Government target of 2030 and support the implementation of the Welsh Government’s new Low Carbon Delivery Plan, to help achieve the Welsh Government’s ambition for the public sector in Wales to be carbon neutral.

3. Make representations to the Welsh and UK Governments, as appropriate, to provide the necessary powers, resources and technical support to local authorities in Wales to help them successfully meet the 2030 target.

4. Continue to work with partners across the region to develop and implement best practice methods that can deliver carbon reductions and help limit global warming.

5. Work with local stakeholders including Councillors, residents, young people, businesses, and other relevant parties to develop a strategy in line with a target of net zero emissions by 2030 and explore ways to maximise local benefits of these actions in other sectors such as employment, health, agriculture, transport and the economy.