Motion submitted by Councillor Dow:

“The Council resolves:

1)    To note that:

               i.         Many local authorities are playing an important role in the UK taking action to achieve net zero carbon emissions, and to protect and revitalise local wildlife and natural habitats.

              ii.         Parliament in May 2019 declared an Environment and Climate Emergency and this Council has  already declared a Climate Emergency.

             iii.         There is a Bill before Parliament—the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (published as the “Climate and Ecology Bill”), which, if it became law, would require the Government to develop a strategy to address the emergency that would ensure:

A.                the ecological emergency is tackled shoulder to shoulder with the climate crisis in a joined-up approach;

B.                the Paris Agreement is enshrined into law to ensure that UK does its real fair share to limit global temperature rise to the most stringent end of the Paris agreement -1.5°C. 

C.                the Leaders Pledge for Nature is enshrined into law to ensure that the UK’s ecosystems are protected and restored with a focus on biodiversity, soils and natural carbon sinks;

D.                the UK takes full responsibility for our entire greenhouse gas footprint (ie consumption emissions plus shipping, flights and land-based transport) by accounting for all of the emissions that take place overseas to manufacture, transport and dispose of the goods and services we import and consume;

E.                the UK takes full responsibility for our ecological footprint so that we protect health and resilience of ecosystems along both domestic and our global supply chains;

2)    To declare an ecological emergency;

3)    To support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill,

4)    To inform the local media of this decision;

5)    To write an open letter to Caroline Ansell MP (shared with our residents through local and social media) urging them to sign up to support the Bill, or thanking them for doing so; and

6)    To write to the CEE Bill Alliance, the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, expressing its support (joinus@ceebill.uk).”

Councillor Dow moved and Councillor Swansborough seconded the following motion, as set out in the agenda:

“The Council resolves:

1)    To note that:

i.           Many local authorities are playing an important role in the UK taking action to achieve net zero carbon emissions, and to protect and revitalise local wildlife and natural habitats.

ii.          Parliament in May 2019 declared an Environment and Climate Emergency and this Council has already declared a Climate Emergency.

iii.        There is a Bill before Parliament—the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (published as the “Climate and Ecology Bill”), which, if it became law, would require the Government to develop a strategy to address the emergency that would ensure:

A.    the ecological emergency is tackled shoulder to shoulder with the climate crisis in a joined-up approach;

B.    the Paris Agreement is enshrined into law to ensure that UK does its real fair share to limit global temperature rise to the most stringent end of the Paris agreement -1.5°C;

C.   the Leaders Pledge for Nature is enshrined into law to ensure that the UK’s ecosystems are protected and restored with a focus on biodiversity, soils and natural carbon sinks;

D.   the UK takes full responsibility for our entire green house gas footprint (i.e. consumption emissions plus shipping, flights and land-based transport) by accounting for all of the emissions that take place overseas to manufacture, transport and dispose of the goods and services we import and consume;

E.    the UK takes full responsibility for our ecological footprint so that we protect health and resilience of ecosystems along both domestic and our global supply chains;

2)    To declare an ecological emergency;

3)    To support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill,

4)    To inform the local media of this decision;

5)    To write an open letter to Caroline Ansell MP (shared with our residents through local and social media) urging them to sign up to support the Bill, or thanking them for doing so; and

6)    To write to the CEE Bill Alliance, the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, expressing its support (joinus@ceebill.uk).

The motion was debated by the Council.  There was a shared support across the Council on the need to declare an ecological emergency and for local action.  However, opposition Councillors indicated they could not support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill as the method to achieve this.

Resolved (By 15 votes to 7):

1)    To note that:

i.           Many local authorities are playing an important role in the UK taking action to achieve net zero carbon emissions, and to protect and revitalise local wildlife and natural habitats.

ii.          Parliament in May 2019 declared an Environment and Climate Emergency and this Council has already declared a Climate Emergency.

iii.        There is a Bill before Parliament—the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (published as the “Climate and Ecology Bill”),which, if it became law, would require the Government to develop a strategy to address the emergency that would ensure:

F.    the ecological emergency is tackled shoulder to shoulder with the climate crisis in a joined-up approach;

G.   the Paris Agreement is enshrined into law to ensure that UK does its real fair share to limit global temperature rise to the most stringent end of the Paris agreement -1.5°C.

H.   the Leaders Pledge for Nature is enshrined into law to ensure that the UK’s ecosystems are protected and restored with a focus on biodiversity, soils and natural carbon sinks;

I.              the UK takes full responsibility for our entire green house gas footprint (i.e. consumption emissions plus shipping, flights and land-based transport) by accounting for all of the emissions that take place overseas to manufacture, transport and dispose of the goods and services we import and consume;

J.     the UK takes full responsibility for our ecological footprint so that we protect health and resilience of ecosystems along both domestic and our global supply chains;

2)      To declare an Ecological Emergency;

3)      To support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill,

4)      To inform the local media of this decision;

5)      To write an open letter to Caroline Ansell MP (shared with our residents through local and social media) urging them to sign up to support the Bill, or thanking them for doing so; and

6)      To write to the CEE Bill Alliance, the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, expressing its support (joinus@ceebill.uk).