At a full council meeting on Wednesday (July 24), Wealden councillors voted in favour of declaring a climate change emergency and committing the authority to becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
Responding to Climate Emergency – Recommendation to Full Council
Decision-Maker: Cabinet Date: 17 July 2019
Decision No: CAB36/2019-EDWMHR
Summary:
To consider and approve the proposed declaration of a ‘Climate Emergency’ by the
Council and agree the next steps in developing the Council’s response to Climate
Change.
Reason:
The report provides a summary of some of the key issues currently driving the climate
change agenda, including the move by many local authorities to declare a ‘Climate
Emergency’. It provides an overview of some of the actions Wealden District Council is
already taking to address climate change and proposes that these are strengthened still
further by the Council publically declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’.
Decision:
a) To acknowledge and accept the findings of the IPCC Special Report on the impacts
of global warming of 1.5°C;
Supplement Page 6
b) To acknowledge the significant progress made to date by the Council in mitigating
and adapting to climate change;
c) To request that the Economic & Waste Cabinet Advisory Group investigate the
development and resourcing of an action plan, with an initial report on outcomes to
be presented at December Cabinet; and.
d) To recommend that Full Council declares a ‘Climate Emergency’ and endorses the
key commitments as outlined below:
1) Work toward a net-zero CO2 by 2050 for both the Council and the Wealden
District area, and pursue efforts to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions even
earlier;
2) Work with Government departments to ensure the necessary policies (such as
tighter building regulations), powers and funding are put in place to achieve a
net-zero CO2 target;
3) Request that the Economic and Waste Cabinet Advisory Group investigate
the opportunities available and report back to Cabinet;
4) Develop a clear action plan that sets out a costed suite of practical actions
which demonstrate the Council’s initial phase of delivery toward net-zero CO2
emissions and which define its leadership role in promoting community-wide
action;
5) Build on work to identify opportunities for low carbon and renewable energy
sources and storage, and the acceleration of electric vehicles take-up within
the District;
6) Work with, influence and inspire partners across the county and region
(including ESCC and the other District and Borough Councils in East Sussex)
via existing forums to deliver this goal through all relevant strategies and
plans;
7) Implement a plan-led approach to development that minimises and mitigates
against emissions from new development; and
8) Investigate all potential sources of funding to support these commitments
