Below are the UK local council, national, and dependency regions that have declared a Climate Emergency, in chronological order from 1 July 2019 onwards. Click the “motion text” links to see details of the motions they passed.
For UK decarations before 1 July 2019, go to https://www.cedamia.org/ced-regions-in-uk/
1 July 2019, Torridge District Council, England, UK, population 68,143
Declared a Climate Emergency. Resolved: Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2025 carbon neutral target date Resolved: Declared a Climate Emergency To agree the following: RESOLUTION: It was proposed by Cllr Jackson that the Council declares a Climate Emergency and ensures that policies in its Neighbourhood Plan reflect its commitment to becoming zero carbon by 2050. The National Trust would welcome working on the “task and Finish” group. This was seconded by Cllr Staddon. RESOLVED: the proposal to declare a Climate Emergency for Broadclyst Parish Council. was unanimously agreed. Declared a Climate Emergency West Berkshire Council therefore: Unanimously declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency RESOLVED that the Notice of Motion that Denbighshire County Council will: The LGA General Assembly declared a Climate Emergency Declared a Climate Emergency Declared a Climate Change Emergency Unanimously declared a Climate Emergency Full agenda Item 16(b) is here. This Council therefore: Declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency Agenda item (not repeated in minutes) is here. Minutes are here. Hythe Town Council recognises and declares that we are facing a Climate and Ecological Emergency and will commit resources and align its policies to address this; HTC will set a target of carbon neutrality from its activities of 2025 at the latest using the Carbon Trust framework, with an Action Plan for achieving this, to be drawn up by a sub-committee of full council which will bring recommended actions to full council for consideration, comment and approval; HTC will report annually at full council on its progress towards the target; HTC will work with partners and contract providers and will investigate all possible sources of external funding and match funding to support this commitment. Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date It was resolved that CTC formally declare that there is aclimate emergency and will actively work towards addressing itin conjunction with CC and Camelford Area Network Cabinet declared a Climate Emergency 2.RECOMMENDATIONS Unanimously declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date Thus this Council resolves: Declared a Climate Emergency Freshford PC resolves to recognise the existence of a climate emergency. The PC fully supports the B&NES declaration on the climate emergency. The PC will work with the Freshford community and community organisations, B&NES and other parish councils to establish specific local initiatives that will contribute to and enhance all aspects of our locality including transport, the built environment, the natural environment, ecology and renewable energy. Declared a Climate Emergency. (i)To support TDCin their approach to climate change and to offer to link SPC’s response. Declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date This Council notes that climate change is one of the biggest threats facing our world and recognises that changing human behaviour to confront the danger to our planet and secure a sustainable, healthy and prosperous environment for us and for future generations to continue to enjoy. To confirm our commitment to this challenge, this Council declares a climate and ecological emergency. In recognising this urgency for change and to lead the way with positive action In accepting the above initial steps, this Council also endorses the ongoing close review of, and a dynamic approach to, our climate change strategy to capitalise on new opportunities and technologies, and thereby continue to influence and inspire positive change in the local and wider areas Cabinet declared a Climate Emergency 1) That Cabinet makes the following declaration of a climate emergency: “Chichester District Council declares a Climate Emergency and requests the Environment Panel to advise Cabinet and Council on how to move to a carbon neutral environment. 2) That the Environment Panel draft Terms of Reference as outlined in Appendix 1 are approved and that the Panel is tasked with evaluating priority actions for a Climate Emergency Action plan, and reports back to Cabinet in November 2019. 3) That the Environment Panel is asked in its report to identify and evaluate the resources needed to achieve delivery of the action plan, including the proposal for a Climate Emergency Officer funded from reserves and the potential for the use of the Zero Carbon Graylingwell payment for implementing carbon reduction initiatives. 4) That in the event that the Council is invited to accept a transfer of funds by Homes England associated with the Zero Carbon Graylingwell project, authority is delegated to the Director of Planning and Environment to accept the funds which are to be used towards specified carbon reduction projects, the spend for which will need to be first agreed in each case by both Homes England and the Council. Unanimously (with one abstention) declared a Climate Emergency despite this conservative-dominate council rejecting a similar motion several months ago Therefore, this council resolves to: Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date Full motion text is here. Minutes are here. Therefore Watford Borough Council approves the following:- Declared a Climate Emergency This Council: Declared a Climate Emergency. Council press release with motion texts is here. Council joins the rapidly growing number of councils that have declared a ‘Climate Change Emergency’. It rejects the idea that this declaration is a symbolic gesture and will give substance to its commitment. ‘Council therefore resolves to become recognised as the greenest London borough. It will undertake the factual analysis, target setting, and produce the strategy and action plans necessary by January 2020, in order to realise this goal and become carbon neutral by 2030. and Council: Declared a Climate Emergency. IT WAS RESOLVED Declared a Climate Emergency – Declare a Climate Emergency. Declared a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency RESOLVED: That the Notice of Motion (as amended) proposed by Councillor NHeslop and seconded by Councillor R Betts (set out below) be agreed: Council Executive body declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date It was RESOLVED: Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date This Council resolves: Declared a Climate Emergency Tackling the Climate Change Emergency Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date Full Council calls on Burnley Borough Council to: Declared a Climate Emergency This Council resolves to: Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date That this Council declare a Climate Emergency as many councils have already done all over the UK and will undertake to: Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date Eastbourne Borough Council recognises there is a Climate Change Emergency and fully supports the Government and the Council’s initiatives in fighting Climate Change. Declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date Motion text is here. Minutes are here. This motion calls on Eden District Council: Unanimously declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date This Council therefore resolves to: Declared a Climate Emergency It therefore resolves: Declared a Climate Emergency This Council therefore: Declared a Climate Emergency This Council resolves to: Declare a climate emergency Immediately carry out a carbon audit of the council’s corporate emissions Commit towards zero carbon emissions for the council’s corporate carbon emissions by 2030 to include carbon offsetting if required Lobby national government to commit to 100 per cent carbon neutrality for the UK by 2045 Agree that the city of Gloucester should become a carbon neutral city no later than 2045 Consider council contracts going forward to oblige all contractors to report their carbon emissions and to place a ‘carbon/environmental cost’ on competing bids. To call on Central Government to provide additional powers and resources to support local and national action towards achieving carbon neutrality Ensure that the City Plan and revised Joint Core Strategy include policies to deliver zero carbon new builds at the earliest date possible, but by 2030 at the latest Work with other public and private bodies to achieve a carbon neutral city as soon as possible, but by 2045 at the latest Provide an annual report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with a performance update on a quarterly basis on the council’s zero carbon strategy. Declared a Climate Emergency Motion text 8a is here. Minutes are here. This Council believes it is still possible to restore a safe climate and therefore declares a climate emergency and will: Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date for the entire Wyre area The Council therefore commits to: Declared a Climate Emergency Motion text is Item 8 here. Therefore, the Council is requested to declare a ‘Climate Emergency’ as a pledge to take local action to contribute to national carbon neutral targets through the development of their own practices and policies. Declared an Environment and Climate Emergency Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date 4.1. Note the impact that climate change is already having around the world and the Declared a Climate Emergency and, in a second motion, resolved to develop a Climate Change Action Plan. Motion – Climate Emergency Motion – Climate Change Action Plan Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date We call on the Council to Declared a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency The Council declared its recognition of global climate and biodiversity emergencies and committed to a range of measures as set out in agenda item 17 dated 15 July 2019. Declared a Climate and Environmental Emergency Declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date Declare a ‘Climate and Ecological Emergency’; Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date The Council will: Declared a Climate Emergency Newark and Sherwood District Council therefore: Unanimously declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date Council therefore resolves to: Unanimously declared a Climate Emergency. The council press release is here. Declared a Climate Emergency Council declares a climate emergency and confirms that it is committed to reducing its carbon emissions and will establish a working group comprising Members, Officers and other interested parties to look at all areas of policy and delivery. A Climate Change Policy and Action Plan will be developed to demonstrate and clarify our position and ambitions and will be reported to Council in Autumn 2019. Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date The decision to declare a Climate Emergency was taken by the Town Council’s Town Strategy Committee and that decision stands. Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date and a 2050 zero carbon target date To ensure this Council is playing its part, it Declared a Climate Emergency Crawley Borough Council welcomes the various recent initiatives taken in Parliament and by West Sussex County Council and many other local authorities to increase awareness of the urgency of addressing the issue of reducing CO2 emissions and resolves to: Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2038 zero carbon target date The impact of climate change is already causing serious damage around the world and all governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to act. Strong policies to cut emissions have associated health, wellbeing and economic benefits. This council therefore declares a ‘Climate Emergency and commits to taking urgent action: (50 Words)- Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 zero carbon target date Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 zero carbon target date Council therefore declares a ‘Climate Emergency’ Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2027 zero carbon target date To that end, this council resolves to: Declared a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 zero carbon target date Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 zero carbon target date This Council therefore calls on the Cabinet to: Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 zero carbon target date This Council therefore resolves to: Declared a Climate Emergency This Council therefore: Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2028 carbon neutral target date for council operations Therefore, in order to address this emergency, the Council commits to: Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date In light of the above, Council thereforeagrees to: Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date for council operations This Council resolves to: Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date B.In recognition of the factors noted above the Council resolves to – Declared a Climate Emergency Declared a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date That in light of the above, this Council will: Declared a Climate Emergency Motion text is here. This Council resolves to: Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 zero carbon target date Motion text (P47) is here. Minutes are here. This Council therefore calls on the cabinet to Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 zero carbon target date Full minutes (Page 6) are here. RESOLVED THAT – this Council therefore declares a climate emergency and in doing so, commits to: Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 zero carbon target date Minutes are here. In light of the above, the Council resolves to: Declared a Climate Change and Environmental Emergency and set a 2025 zero carbon target date for council operations and a 2030 target date for the borough as a whole Eastleigh Borough Council has a long history of tackling climate change; throughout the life of its current Climate Change Strategy the Council has installed thousands of kWh of renewable energy, supported residents and community groups to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, lobbied Government and worked with partners to improve the resilience of the Borough. Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 zero carbon target date Motion 417 submitted by John Halsall Declared a Climate Emergency Motion text Item 10 is here. Council therefore resolves to: Declared a Climate Emergency and appointed a ‘Climate Champion’ Agenda can be viewed here. Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date (a)That a climate change emergency be declared by Canterbury City Council; Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date 1. declared a ‘Climate Emergency’; Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’. Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2030 carbon neutral target date Sefton Council is committed to reducing carbon emissions and resolves to go further than the UK100 Agreement and to act in line with the scientific consensus that we must reduce emissions to net zero by 2030, and therefore commits to: Declared a Climate Emergency and set a 2025 carbon neutral target date for council operations and a 2030 target date for the entire borough This Council resolves to request Cabinet to: Declared a Climate Emergency Given the special situation of this Borough geographically, ecologically and environmentally, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council therefore declares a Climate Emergency requiring urgent action and commits to the following six actions, andin so doing calls on the Government to provide the powers, resources and help with funding to achieve them, and urges its local MPs to support this action and lobby Government accordingly – Declared a Climate Emergency The Combined Authority recognises: In recognition of the seriousness of the global climate emergency, the Combined Authority resolves: Declared a Climate Emergency and amended the carbon neutral target target date proposed in the original motion to make it 2030 instead of 2045
Minutes are here.
That TDC declare its own “Climate Emergency” with a commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030 at the latest.(Vote: For 24, Against 5, Abstentions 2)1 July 2019, Bovey Tracey and Heathfield Town Council, England, UK, population 4,729
Minutes P6 are here.
i) To declare a Climate Emergency –this will help to raise the profile of this vital issue and secure external support and funding.
ii) Pledge to do whatever is in its power, working with residents, to make Bovey Tracey and Heathfieldcarbon neutral by 2025, taking into account both production and consumption emissions.
iii) Initiate and support an environment working group comprised of Councillors, residents and interested parties to investigate possible local responses, make recommendations for actions to the Council and facilitatetheir implementation.
iv) Call on Devon County Council, Teignbridge District Council and Westminster to provide the powers and resources required to make the 2025 target.
v) Work withDevon County Council, Teignbridge District Council, neighbouring town and parish councils, government departments and otherorganisations to determine, implementand deliver actions to limit global heating to less than1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
vi) Review each of its proposeddecisions to assess how they contribute to achieving the target and adaptthem to do so wherever possible.
vii) Add Climate Emergency to all relevant Council and committee agendas.
viii) Invite the Neighbourhood Development Plan working group to consider how the Plan might be drafted to best address the Climate Emergency.
ix) Will, within six months and at regular intervals thereafter, review progress and update actions to address this emergency.
x) Will investigate all possible sources of external funding and match funding to support this commitment.
xi) To set up a working party comprising Cllrs Allen, J Arnold, Fletcher, Mills and Morgan-West.1 July 2019, Broadclyst Parish Council, England, UK, population 1,467
Minutes can be downloaded here.
a. To put a statement on the parish council website: “Broadclyst Parish Council resolved on 1st July 2019 to acknowledge that we must play our part in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We intend to publicise measures to reduce GHG emissions; to use the Neighbourhood Plan to encourage new developments to include GHG emissions reductions measures; to reduce GHG emissions from our own activities, and to support initiatives within the parish to reduce GHG emissions and to sequestrate carbon.”
b. To support low and net zero carbon emissions as a condition of planning consent within the Broadclyst Neighbourhood Plan.
c. To appoint a “task and finish” group with two aims: firstly, to identify how the parish council can reduce GHG emissions from its own activities; secondly, to identify ways in which the parish council can support initiatives by residents and businesses in the parish to reduce GHG emissions. This support could be through publicity, through sourcing of grants, or even through direct funding. However, it may be that the parish will be unable to allocate any officer time to assisting with these measures until after the NP has been adopted, and the NP must take priority.”2 July 2019, West Berkshire Council, England, UK, population 158,527
PROGRESS SO FAR:
28 October 2019: Hosting a climate conference
10 January 2020: Seeking feedback on draft Environment Strategy
Full agenda Item 15 (c) is here.
Excerpt:
1. Declares a Climate Emergency.
2. Will create a strategic plan for West Berkshire, that aims to deliver carbon neutral by 2030.
3. Calls on HM Government to provide the Council with the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible.
4. Will work with other authorities to determine and implement where practicable best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5°C.
5. Will continue to work with businesses, residents and other stakeholders across the district to deliver this new goal via all relevant strategies and plans.
6. The newly formed Environment Board will provide an interim report to the Executive in September 2019 with the progress made to date.2 July 2019, Denbighshire County Council, Wales, UK, population 95,330
Minutes can be downloaded here.
Excerpt:
– Immediately declare a Climate and Ecological Emergency;
– Commit to making the authority net carbon zero by 2030 at the latest;
– Set up a task and finish group to draw up a clear plan within 6 (six) months to achieve the above, including ways to enhance biodiversity in Denbighshire;
– Call on the Welsh Government and UK Government to provide assistance and resources to enable us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance biodiversity; and
– Work with partners across the public, private and third sector to help solve this climate and ecological emergency,
be unanimously agreed by the Council.2 July 2019, Local Government Association, England and Wales, UK
3 July 2019, Cotswold District Council, England, UK, population 89,022
PROGRESS SO FAR:
19 February 2020: appointed a head of climate action
Full agenda Item 12 (ii) is here.
3 July 2019, Walmer Parish Council, England, UK, population 8,178
Minutes are here. 4 July 2019, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, England, UK, population 255,833
Excerpt:
1. Declares a Climate Emergency which involves taking actions in the clauses a to f.
2. Notes that our current targets are inadequate to respond to the challenge of keeping global temperature rises below 1.5 oC. This Council requests that:
(a) the Cabinet set up a Stoke-on-Trent Climate Change Liaison Group immediately to respond to this challenge, that meets in public with wide representation including Councillors, residents, young citizens, both Universities and other relevant parties.
(b) the Cabinet through this Group sets a new target for Stoke-on-Trent to be carbon neutral and develops an action plan by the end of 2019, to achieve this.
(c) the relevant cabinet member with responsibility for climate change should take proactive steps to include young people and the public in the process.
(d) resolves to work with other local authorities and public, private and voluntary sector partners on carbon reduction projects to ensure the UK can deliver its climate commitments.
(e) requests a report from our pension funds and our investment managers on our levels of investment in the fossil fuel industry.
(f) Council calls on the Government to provide the resources and powers so that Stoke-on-Trent can make its contribution to the UK’s Carbon Reduction targets.4 July 2019, Hythe Town Council, England, UK, population 14,516
4 July 2019, Camelford Town Council, England, UK, population 2,945
Minutes Item 10b are here.8 July 2019, Enfield Council, England, UK, population 333,869
Cabinet resolution is here.
2.1 To approve the Council in joining other local authorities to declare a ‘climate emergency’ that requires urgent action.
2.2 To approve, for recommendation to Council, a commitmentto make Enfield Council carbon neutral by 2030 –orearlier if possible –andundertaking to move all strategic, budgetary and policy decisionsinline with this shift.
2.3 To establisha Climate Emergency Task Force of officers and members to determinehow to achieve this target and to explore what more can be done to cut greenhouse gas emissionsin the Council’s operations and supply chain, as well as acrossthe borough, and to:
– Update the Sustainable Enfield plan by 2020and submit it to Cabinet for approval
– involve all our partners, but especially the Youth Parliament, in updating the plan 2.4 To recommend to the Pension Policy and Investment Committee that they consider revisions to the policy on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) within its Investment Strategy Statement.The new policy will require the Fund toreview its holdings in companies ensuring they do contribute towardsa de-carbonised economy. In particular, the Fund shouldcontinue to actively reduce its holdings in fossil fuel companies over a planned period of time.8 July 2019, Brent London Borough Council, England, UK, population 330,795
Full text of decision is here.
Excerpt:
– To join our Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan in declaring a Global climate emergency. This is essential to protect our only planet, not only for us, but for all the life on it and, hopefully, all the generations of life to come.
– Do all reasonable in the Council’s gift to aim for carbon neutrality for 2030 and work with government to achieve the national 2050 target.
– Develop a Carbon Offset Fund and strategy, to enshrine the principle that developments, could and should fund projects that reduce carbon emissions elsewhere in the borough.
– At every opportunity, redirect our investments into renewable energy projects and carbon free or carbon neutral technologies.
– To continue delivering reductions in greenhouse gas emissions via the development of district energy networks and support for renewable alternatives
– Request that the appropriate scrutiny committee review the actions taken to reduce carbon emissions in Brent and the Council at the end of the municipal year.
– To empower a Lead Member to take responsibility for tackling climate change in Brent and charges that person with the responsibility to produce a report on this subject within 6 months, one that emphasises and promotes the importance of local biodiversity.
– Make representations to national government to urge them to provide the power and resources to the Mayor of London and local authorities to hasten the pace of carbon reduction and to immediately end the £10.5 billion of hidden subsidies with which central government supportsthe Fossil Fuel industry in this country.
– Explore the viability of there being an annual Green summit for interested parties, where issues can be discussed, good practice shared and ideas promoted.
Councillor Roxanne Mashari (mover)8 July 2019, Freshford Parish Council, England, UK, population 551
Minutes are here.8 July 2019, Starcross Parish Council, England, UK, population 1,780
Minutes Item 12.2 are here.
(ii)To declare a Climate Emergencyin Starcross
(iii)To put in place a permanent policy guideline that for all future actions and decisions of Starcross Parish Council within both its powers and the limits of its technical knowledge,SPC should take regard of this issue of climate change
(iv)Undertake a review of all current operations and come back to Council within 12 months with our own Action Plan
Proposer: Cllr Hawkins; Seconder: Cllr Debenham
AGREEDUNANIMOUSLY8 July 2019, North East Derbyshire District Council, England, UK, population 100,780
Motion text is here.
Excerpt:
for the transformation of our District and wider area, this Council therefore
resolves to:-
– Adopt a Climate Change Action Strategy with immediate effect that includes action planning.
– Adopt all targets set out in the Council Climate Change Action Plan and achieve at least an 80%, while aiming to achieve a 100%, reduction in our net carbon emissions by 2030.
– Implement a monitoring system and reporting mechanisms as set out in the Climate Change Plan, and establish a Climate Change Council SubGroup of cross-party membership (chaired by the Council’s Climate Change Portfolio Holder), which will also consider all necessary future actions as required.
– Promote and embed sustainable and energy efficient practices, buildings, workplaces and transport across our organisation and services with the target of 100% clean energy by 2030.
– Continue to harness our Streetscene Teams and planning processes to protect and enhance our natural environment, stimulate biodiversity and nurture our wildlife and pollinators.
– Introduce a communication strategy, organise community action events, establish ‘Climate Change Schools’ conferences, and work with our partners, businesses, schools, communities and other Councils to promote behavioural change, and develop new ideas and co-ordinated responses to climate change and plastic pollution.9 July 2019, Chichester District Council, England, UK, population 120,750
PROGRESS SO FAR:
9 January 2020: initial action plan developed, which sets out a carbon reduction target of ten per cent year on year until 2025 within the district.
Motion 7 is here.
Motion:9 July 2019, Surrey County Council, England, UK, population 1,189,934
PROGRESS SO FAR:
August 2019: Actions and community engagement measures added to council’s website
Full minutes are here.
Excerpt:
1.commit to working closely with the Government, the Environment Agency, our Borough & District colleagues, local businesses, our residents and other partners in meeting this ambitious target.
2.deliver a strategy in 2019/20 involving a task group that clearly outlines how we plan to deliver the target including actions that will be taken.
3.write to the government asking them to confirm what support will be made available to local authorities to help achieve this goal.
4.declares a ‘Climate Emergency’, and commits actions to support businesses and all local authorities in their work to tackle climate changeby providing a strong unified voice for councils in lobbying for support to address this emergency, and sharing best practice across all councils.9 July 2019, Watford Borough Council, England, UK, population 96,800
Excerpt:
1) Join other Councils in recognising and declaring a climate emergency
2) Pledge to do everything within the Council’s power to make the whole of Watford carbon neutral by 2030
3) Within this develop an ambitious sustainability strategy for reducing the Council’s own emissions, with an objective that the Council becomes carbon neutral by 2030
4) Use all planning regulations and the Local Plan to cut carbon emissions and reduce the impact on the environment
5) Call on national government for more powers and resources to make this pledge possible, and ask the Elected Mayor to write to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to this effect
6) Continue to work with partners across the borough, county and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans
7) Take account of climate impacts within existing decision making processes
8) Report back to Council, via the newly established Sustainability Forum, on an action plan to address the climate emergency, and then every six months after this an update on progress being made. The proposed action plan to be on the agenda of the Sustainability Forum to be held 3rd October 2019
9) Dedicate enough staff and budget to achieve these aims, including the most appropriate training for members and officers to promote carbon neutral polices and to achieve these aims9 July 2019, St Albans City & District Council, England, UK, population 147,095
Minutes of the motion are here.
· declares that it recognises that there is a Climate Emergency;
· pledges to do everything within its power to make the whole of St Albans City and District carbon neutral by 2030;
· pledges to develop an ambitious sustainability strategy for reducing the Council’s own emissions, with an objective that the Council becomes carbon neutral by 2030;
· calls on national government for more powers and resources to make this pledge possible;
· declares it will work with partners across the District and region to deliver this goal, through all relevant strategies and plans;
· calls upon Cabinet to
· recognise the Sustainable St Albans’ petition’s call for community-wide action
· establish a politically proportionate working group with co-opted (non voting) members of the public;
· enable that working group to address:
– the development of a strategy and detailed action plan which identifies the responsible Portfolio Holder(s), the financial and officer time budget, with key delivery dates;
– how the Council can best work with Rothamsted Research to make a success of their recently announced agricultural climate change fund https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/news/%C2%A335-million-climate-change-fund-established-shake-agri-food-sector
– how the Council can best work to access the £22million Energy Catalyst Round 7 https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/369/overview#eligibility
– how the Council can best help the Woodland Trust and Community Forest Trust’s plans to plant huge numbers of trees, given their beneficial impact on carbon capture, for example, the Northern Forest initiative https://www.urbangreenup.eu/news–events/news/northern-forest.kl
and on our own doorstep, the Heartwood Forest;
– how the Council can best work to support the proposed bottle deposit recycling scheme https://consult.defra.gov.uk/environment/introducing-a-deposit-return-scheme/supporting_documents/depositreturnconsultdoc.pdf
– how the Council can best work with Anne Main MP, in her capacity as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Prevention of Plastic Waste, to publicise the good work of that Group;
– how the Council can best work to deliver the ban on plastic straws, drink stirrers and plastic stemmed cotton buds locally https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gove-takes-action-to-ban-plastic-straws-stirrers-and-cotton-buds
– how the Council can best pick up the ideas suggested by Friends of the Earth in their paper, https://policy.friendsoftheearth.uk/insight/33-actions-local-authorities-can-take-climate-change
– how the Council’s emerging Local Plan can be used to deliver net zero carbon outcomes, for example with Passivhaus homes, zero carbon homes, requirements for new homes to have electric car charging points and tree canopy targets;
– how the Council can best support the early conversion of the local taxi vehicle fleet to electric cabs;
– how the Council can help to increase the District’s already high waste recycling rates;
– how best to monitor the local impact of the Government’s decision to legislate for net zero emissions by 2050 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-theresa-may-we-will-end-uk-contribution-to-climate-change-by-2050
· report back to Full Council by October 2019 on a strategy and action plan to address the emergency, co-produced with partners and local stakeholders, and then every six months after this on the progress being made;
· dedicate sufficient staff and budget to achieve these aims, including training all Council staff and Councillors;
· take account of climate impacts within existing decision-making processes.
and, recognising the need for urgent international collaboration to address the present Emergency,
• calls upon the Leader of the Council to share this motion with the elected Leaders of our twin towns and to establish what action they may be taking in respect of the Climate Emergency and what good practice they may be able to share.9 July 2019, Richmond London Borough Council, England, UK, population 196,904
PROGRESS SO FAR:
Published Climate Change Strategy document
Minutes are here.
Two motions were passed:
1. Endorses Parliament’s declaration of a national climate change emergency;
2. Reaffirms the Council’s response to the Government’s Aviation Strategy consultation and condemns said strategy’s entirely inadequate approach to mitigating climate change;
3. Looks forward to the publication of a draft Borough Climate Change & Sustainability Strategy, its discussion at the July meeting of the ESCS Committee, the subsequent borough-wide consultation and the adoption of the finalised strategy and targets in the Autumn.9 July 2019, Woodbridge Town Council, England, UK, population 7,749
Minutes are here.
that Woodbridge Town Council formally declares a Climate Emergency for Woodbridge.10 July 2019, Manchester City Council, England, UK, population 547,627
Motion Item 5 is here, but note that an amendment strengthened the motion by setting an earlier carbon neutral target date. A webcast of discussion of this motion is here. Minutes are here.
Excerpt:
– Continue working with partners across Manchester and GMCA to deliver the 2038 target, and determine if an earlier target can be possible, through a transparent and open review. Become carbon neutral by the earliest possible date.
– Encourage involvement in all wards by April 2020 through meetings as part of the Our Manchester strategy, to identify residents and partners who want to be actively involved in achieving the target, with provision for those who cannot attend. Ensure ward plans contain specific, measurable, achievable steps.
– Review all policies, processes and procedures to ensure the council can become carbon neutral. Present an action plan by March 2020 detailing how the city can stay within its carbon budget. Report back regularly to the NESC. Review the corporate plan.
– Work with the Tyndall Centre to review the actual emissions from aviation. Investigate the best way to include aviation in our overall carbon reduction programme in the long term.
– Make climate breakdown and the environment, an integral part of activity throughout the Council, including all decision making, ensuring key decisions take into account the impact on achieving the zero-carbon target and including an environmental impact assessment in all relevant committee reports.Ensure that everyone in the council receives carbon literacy training by the end of 2020. Make attendance easier by varying times and length of sessions.
– Encourage all staff on council business to use the lowest carbon, appropriate, travel.
– Investigate measures to ensure future procurement is carbon neutral. Increase the percentage of social value with an additional environmental element.
– Work with suppliers to green their supply chains, and support local production.
– Work with training providers to ensure Manchester residents can take on green jobs.
– Investigate and introduce measures to help reach domestic zero carbon levels including addressing fuel poverty and retrofitting existing homes.
– Investigate ways to ensure that future local plans place a mandatory requirement for all new development to be net zero carbon by the earliest possible date.
– Push GMCA to decarbonise public transport, heat and energy as early as possible.
– Through our role on GMPF, encourage divestment in fossil fuels as early as possible.
– Explore the possibility of introducing a 2030 target in line with the IPCC report and request that a report on its viability be brought back to the Executive before the end of the year.
– Call on the government to:
o provide powers and resources to make the zero-carbon target possible including funding for big capital projects.
o accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions from aviation.
o accelerate the decarbonisation of the electricity grid, funding low carbon energy generation.
o ensure that the UK prosperity fund focuses on enable the transition to a low carbon economy.9 July 2019, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, England, UK, population 130,508
Minutes P6 are here.
1. The Borough Council’s recognition of global climate change and biodiversity emergencies be declared;
2. Consideration be given to how the Borough Council can strengthen local protection and enhance protection of species, habitats and ecosystems under available powers;
3. Services and operations be reviewed to ensure Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has policies that support climate change mitigation, for example the provision of electric charging points across the borough, so that it is one of the most welcoming places in the country for driving electric and hybrid vehicles;
4. An initial reportbe made to the Cabinet setting out how, in partnership with other agencies, the Council will be making positive contributions to combat climate change and a revised draft Climate Change Strategy brought forward by May 2020 including deliverable performance indicators and an aspiration for Tonbridge and Malling to be carbon neutral by 2030.9 July 2019, Ipswich Borough Council, England, UK, population 133,384
Minutes are here.
Excerpt:
a) that Ipswich Borough Council declare a Climate Emergency and that the Council starts working towards becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
b) that Executive calls on the UK Government to provide guidance and the powers and resources to make carbon neutrality possible.
c) that a Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan be developed, with a cross party working group and the necessary officer support to assist with investigative work, drafting the plan and the delivery of early projects. This plan was to be presented to Executive in June 2020.
d) that financial provision of £50k be made in the 2019/20 financial year for the necessary officer support to develop a Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan.
e) that financial provision of £100k per annum of Capital Expenditure be made within the Medium Term Financial Plan in respect of the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, commencing in the 2020/21 financial year.10 July 2019, Bury Council, England, UK, population 190,108
Agenda Item P5 (amended at meeting to bring forward carbon neutral target date to 2030) is here.
Excerpt:
1.To declare a Climate Emergency and aspire for Bury to be Carbon Neutral by 2038;
2.To create a cross party, stakeholder panel to develop a Climate Emergency Strategic Plan and associated Delivery Plan. The membership of this stakeholder panel should include [but is not limited to pending further discussion]all public sector partners,community representation and the business community; This Strategic Plan would promote both big and small changes. It would have a particular focus on reducing carbon emissions, promoting the development of renewable energy initiatives and seeking to make Bury a leader in eco – business. The ambition should be that plans to tackle climate change should be mainstreamed into the borough’s plans for economic growth and those to improve population health;
3.The Stakeholder Panel should report back to Council within the next six months setting out the immediate steps the Council will take to address the Climate Change emergency, and the longer term actions that will be necessary;
4.The Council acknowledges that the public services in Bury alone cannot deliver the change that is needed and that leadership across our communities is required. On that basis, the Council will look to create Environmental Forums in each of the borough’s six townships to help develop a community response to the Climate Emergency;
5.The Council will actively lobby the Government to provide the additionalpowers and resources needed to meet the 2038 target10 July 2019, St Helens Council, England, UK, population 176,843
Minutes P5 are here.
This council notes:
That the impacts of climate breakdown are already causing damaging effects across the globe. That the contents of the ‘Special Report on Global Warming’ published by the intergovernmental panel on Climate Change in October 2018 wherein they outline the enormous harm that a 2⁰C rise in global temperature is likely to cause compared with a 1.5⁰C rise. Nevertheless, they say that with ambitious action, it may be possible to limit global warming to the1.5⁰Crise.
That the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has set out how it plans to tackle theClimate Emergency and approved the development of a full climate action plan by December 2019.Given that it is Liverpool City Region’s ‘Year of the Environment’ and that the UK has contributed significantly to global warming, this council commits to:
Aiming to be zero-carbon by 2040.
Taking action towards increasing recycling and reducing landfill waste.
Achieve 100% clean energy across the Council’s full range of functions by 2040.
Ensure that all decisions, budgets, and approaches to planning decisions are balanced and in line with achieving the zero-carbon target.
Request that scrutiny panels consider the impact of climate change and theenvironment when reviewing council policies.
Ensure that all reports in preparation for the 2020/21 budget cycle and investment strategy will take into account the actions the council will take to address thisemergency;
Call on the UK Government to provide the powers, resources and help with funding to make this possible.
Consider other actions that could be implemented, including (but not restricted to): renewable energy generation and storage, providing electric vehicle infrastructure and encouraging alternatives to private car use, increasing the efficiency of buildings, in particular to address fuel poverty; proactively using local planning powers to accelerate the delivery of net carbon new developments and communities, coordinating a eries of information and training events to raise awareness and share good practice.
*Resolved that the Motion be approved.10 July 2019, Burnley Borough Council, England, UK, population 88,527
Full motion text is here.
Minutes are here.
Excerpt:
1 Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
2 Call on the Executive to establish a cross-party ‘Climate Change Working Group’ (one member from each group) whose remit is to provide recommendations to the Executive, in light of the Climate Emergency, to make the Borough of Burnley carbon neutral by 2030,
taking into account both production and consumption emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3);
The working group’s first task will be to establish rules for and propose a citizen’s assembly for climate change action so that the public can provide feedback to theworking group in future so that they can take that into consideration when making recommendations to the Executive.
3 Call on Lancashire County Council and Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible;
4 Call on the Executive to report to Full Council within six months with the actions the Council will take to address this emergency and detailed reasons with supporting evidence (from within existing resources and expertise without incurring third party
expenditure) for the refusal of any recommendation(s) made by the Climate Change Working Group.10 July 2019, Merton London Borough Council, England, UK, population 206,186
Full motion text is here. Minutes are here.
Excerpt:
declare a climate emergency;
work towards ensuring that the borough is carbon neutral by 2050, in line with the Mayor and the Government’s targets. Achieving this will require significant investment and policy initiatives from the Government, and Council hopes it would be achieved earlier than 2050;
work towards ensuring that the Council is carbon neutral by 2030, recognising the leadership role it has in the borough;
develop a working group to support the Council move from declaration to delivery drawing in cross sector expertise, capacity and capability. The working group should draw on existing expertise within the borough as well as including residents who are representative of the borough as a whole;
set in place a process of engagement and collaborative action that enables an action plan to be considered by Cabinet and Council in early 2020, based on achieving the aforementioned targets.10 July 2019, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, England, UK, population 98,496
PROGRESS SO FAR:
17 January 2020: Council has teamed up with Keele University to deliver training sessions for District, Town and Parish Councillors as part of a long-tem partnership with Keele University who are working closely with Council on the climate change action plan.
Motion text is here. Minutes are here.
1. Start working with partners across the district and region towards making The Staffordshire Moorlands carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account emissions from both production and consumption.
2. Call on The Government to provide guidance, powers and resources to make carbon neutrality possible by writing to local MPs and all relevant government departments.
3. Develop a Carbon Neutrality and Climate Resilience Plan through a cross party working group with officer support and with a brief to draw on wider expertise to assist with investigative work, establishment of priorities, drafting of the plan and delivery.
4. Ensure that all Council Bodies and Scrutiny Panels consider the impact of climate change and the environment when making decisions and reviewing Council policies and strategies.
5. Review progress made on an annual basis via Scrutiny and Full Council.10 July 2019, Eastbourne Borough Council, England, UK, population 107,000
PROGRESS SO FAR
13 August 2019: The council has now added a mandatory field on the report template called ‘Environmental Impact Analysis’ that will require the author to assess the report content against the council’s sustainability policy and the 2030 carbon neutral target.
Minutes P3 are here.
Eastbourne Borough Council acknowledges the work achieved by this administration since 2007 to offset the negative effects of climate change.
In keeping with our ambitious programme to date, EastbourneBorough Council commits to working in close partnership with local groups and stakeholders to deliver a carbon neutral town by 2030.11 July 2019, Eden District Council, England, UK, population 52,564
1.To declare a Climate Emergency and an Ecological Emergency.
2.To aim to make Eden District carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions.
3.Critically to evaluate the ecological impacts of all Eden District Council’s decisions and actions; to refuse initiatives that will result in the degradation of the natural environment and biodiversity; and actively to promote the safeguarding and improvement of the natural environment.
4.To prepare, by the end of 2019, a strategic plan to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2030, across all activities for which the Council is responsible, working with independent expert advisory groups to ensure the council adopts best practice.
5.To call on the UK Government to provide the powers, resources and funding to meet a 2030 zero carbon target across Eden District.
6.To work together with other councils, public and private sector organisations (within Eden, Cumbria, the UK and internationally) to determine and implement best practice methods to achieve zero emissions in Eden District by 2030.
7.To facilitate the involvement of Eden’s residents, from schoolchildren to elders, in formulating plans to address the climate and ecological crisis, delivering those plans and monitoring their progress.11 July 2019, Thanet District Council, England, UK, population 141,819
Agenda item is here. Minutes are here.
● Declare a climate emergency;
● Pledge to do what is within our powers and resources to make Thanet District Council carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions;
● Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible;
● Continue to work with partners across the county and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies;
● Requests the council investigate all possible sources of external funding and match funding to support this commitment;11 July 2019, Pendle Borough Council, England, UK, population 91,405
Minutes are here.
Excerpt:
(1) To declare a climate emergency in the Borough of Pendle.
(2) To set up an all-party member and officer working group to research what actions other Councils were taking; to take evidence from local and wider sources on what action it could usefully take and what actions could be promoted in other ways in Pendle; to seek to work with other Lancashire Councils including Town and Parish Councils in Pendle and Lancashire County Council; to make recommendations to the Policy and Resources Committee on what short-term action could be taken; and to present an Action Plan to the Council within six months with the aim of taking the lead and making Pendle Council and its arms-length bodies carbon-neutral by 2030 and for working for Pendle as a whole to be carbon neutral by 2030 or as soon as possible thereafter.
(3) To audit and review the local development plan as part of this process and to include a climate emergency audit and statement as part of all significant new Council policies and plans.
(4) To seek to work with local schools, Nelson and Colne College and other education bodies, together with community groups of all kinds and local media to increase understanding of the climate emergency and to develop ways of tackling it in ways which promote freedom, fairness and equality and community strengths.
(5) To promote such short-term action as may be possible during the course of the current Council year.
(6) To present a full report and action plan to the Policy and Resources Committee and thereby to the Council meeting in March 2020.11 July 2019, North Kesteven District Council, England, UK, population 115,230
See full text of Motion 6 here. Minutes are here.
Excerpt:
• Calls upon Her Majesty’s Government to explore supporting our Council in implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals through a funded partnership role;
• Will consider how our local priorities link with the overall ambitions of the Sustainable development goals; and
• Declares a ‘Climate Emergency’, and works with residents, businesses and other partners to tackle climate change, lobbying for support to address this emergency by 2030.11 July 2019, Gloucester City Council, England, UK, population 129,285
Full motion text is here. Minutes are here.
Excerpt:11 July 2019, Harlow Council, England, UK, population 86,594
Excerpt:
i) Aim to reduce its net carbon emissions as far as possible;
ii) Reduce its carbon footprint at a greater rate than it is already committed to doing so;
iii) Create a program of new tree and hedgerow planting across the town, starting with 1,000 in the next year;
iv) Encourage HTS (Property and Environment) to plan for a switch over from petrol and diesel vehicles, plant and machinery to electric vehicles, plant and machinery; and
v) Reaffirm its commitment to the Garden Town development’s principles of sustainable transport.11 July 2019, Wyre Council, England, UK, population 111,223
Motion text Item 10 is here. Minutes are here.
Excerpt:
· Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’ that requires urgent action;
· Make the Council’s activities net-zero carbon by 2030;
· Achieve 100% clean energy across the Council’s full range of functions by 2030;
· Ensure that all strategic decisions, budgets and approaches to planning decisions are in line with a shift to zero carbon by 2030;
· Support and work with all other relevant agencies towards making the entire Wyre area zero carbon within the same timescale;
· Ensure the Council take responsibility for reducing, as rapidly as possible, the carbon emissions resulting from the Council’s activities, ensuring that any recommendations are fully costed and that the Executive and Scrutiny functions review council activities taking account of production and consumption emissions and produce an action plan within 12 months, together with budget actions and a measured baseline;
· Where necessary officer reports to Cabinet and Full Council contain impact assessments on Climate Change, including presenting alternative approaches which reduce carbon emissions where possible
….15 July 2019, Stratford-on-Avon District Council, England, UK, population 127,580
Excerpt:
Part 2
In addition Council calls on The Cabinet to:
· Ask the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) to convene a task and finish working group to consult with and invite input from representatives of local environmental groups, residents and businesses, and report back to The Cabinet and Council by January 2020 on the following areas:
(i) the effectiveness of the current activities undertaken by the Council to combat climate change;
(ii) how all council policy proposals could best consider the impacts of climate change and the mitigation and adaptation measures required;
(iii) a critical analysis of what additional actions the Council could take to contribute to national carbon neutral targets, and;
(iv) what adaptation measures the Council may need to put in place as climate change worsens;
(v) how the Council could best engage residents on the severity of the Climate Emergency, and the ways the Council could help facilitate local people and businesses to take independent action;
(vi) how the Council could work with local and regional organisations and environmental groups to raise awareness and combat climate change;
(vii) the changes in national regulations and policies that may be needed, so that Council could, where required, call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources needed.15 July 2019, Wirral Council, England, UK, population 323,235
PROGRESS SO FAR:
16 August 2019: Replacing 26,000 streelights with LED alternatives
17 September: Developing Climate Emergency Action Plan
15 July 2019, Croydon London Borough Council, England, UK, population 385,346
PROGRESS SO FAR
18 October 2019: A pilot scheme introducing ground source heat pumps for heating apartments
Motion text is here.
need for urgent action at an international, national and local level;
4.2. Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
4.3. Note the work and commitment that the Council has already made towards
sustainability;
4.4. Establish a target for Croydon Council be become carbon neutral by 2030;
4.5. Work with the Mayor of London to meet the aim for London to be a zero-carbon
city by 2050;
4.6. Call on the UK Government to provide the powers, resources and help with
funding to make this possible;
4.7. Work with communities across Croydon to ensure that all residents and
businesses are empowered and encouraged to play their part in making the
Croydon the most sustainable borough in London.
4.8. Note the important role of all elected Members in leading this agenda.15 July 2019, Buckingham Town Council, England, UK, population 12,890
Motion text (Items 29 and 30) is here.
It is now clear that the world has less than 12 years to switch away from fossil fuels to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Reducing energy use and switching to clean energy will also increase energy security, improve air quality, minimise fuel poverty, boost the local economy and provide jobs and training.It is proposed that Buckingham Town Council declares a climate emergency and commits to going carbon neutral by 2030. This will help to raise the profile of this vital issue and secure external support and funding. It is also proposed that Buckingham Town Council also signs up to the Covenant of Mayors to track our progress and link with towns around the world who are cutting emissions. Proposer Ruth Newell, Seconder Robin Stuchbury
Proposed by Cllr. Newell and seconded by Cllr. Stuchbury.We call on Buckingham Town Council to support the need for a Climate Change Action Plan for Buckingham Town, so that we take the first step towards taking some concerted actions to reduce and move towards a Net Zero Carbon Footprint for the town. There are so many no-cost and low-cost options available that when combined with the funding available to community and other organisations we can start to play an increased role in combating climate change15 July 2019, Lewes District Council, England, UK, population 102,744
PROGRESS SO FAR:
17 September 2019: Budgeted £100,000 to support the immediate development of a comprehensive Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy
February 2020: On top of the £100,000 already allocated, put £500,000 in the budget to fund climate and sustainability related projects
Full motion text is here. Minutes are here.
Excerpt:
Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’ and enact the following proposals in order to:
Reduce Council greenhouse gas emissions to net zero and become fully ‘climate-resilient’ by 2030.
We call on the Council1.
To develop a comprehensive Climate Change Strategy within 12 months that addresses all inward and outward-facing Council functions and implement appropriate monitoring and reporting mechanisms in order to:
– Ensure that all strategic decisions, budgets and approaches to planning decisions are in line with a shift to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030;
– Ensure that appropriate resources and capacity are put in place to progress theactions needed to address the ‘climate emergency’ effectively; and
– Support and work with relevant agencies and stakeholders towards making the entire District zero carbon and climate resilient by 2030.
2.To request Scrutiny Committee to set up a Climate Change Scrutiny Panelthat receives progress reports on the policy and actions enacted by the Council to address the ‘Climate Emergency’. This incorporates the existing request to ScrutinyCommittee to monitor the implementation of recommendations made by the Climate Change Action Group. The Panel will also invite appropriate experts to support Council climate change actions.
3.To request that a Community Climate Change Forumis convened with representation and participation from across the district. Invitees to include but not berestricted to representatives from local communities, parish and town councils, organisations, business, education, nature groups, agricultural, food, health and transport groups.
4.To request that the Council is especially proactive in taking steps to include young people in the ‘Climate Emergency’ process, ensuring that they have a voice in shaping the future.
5.To report on an annual basis to the Audit and Standards Committee on the level of investment in the fossil fuel industry that our pensions plan and other investments have, and review the Council’s investment strategy to give due consideration to climate change impacts in the investment portfolio.
6.To ensure that all reports in preparation for the 2020/21 budgeting take into account actions the Council will take to address this emergency.
7.The Portfolio Holder write to the Government to set out the Council’s intentions and call on the UK Government to provide the powers, resources and help with funding to make this possible, and ask our local MP to do likewise.15 July 2019, Burgess Hill Town Council, England, UK, population 30,635
Minutes P9 are here.15 July 2019, Chudleigh Town Council, England, UK, population 4,011
Minutes are here. 16 July 2019, Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council, England, UK, population 395,784
PROGRESS SO FAR:
17 December 2019: endorsed more than 150 proposed actions needed to make Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole carbon neutral by 2050
Motion text is here.
Excerpt:
Pledge to make BCP Council and its operations carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3)5;
Work with partners, businesses and the wider community to investigate, make recommendations and set a target date for how early the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole region can be made carbon neutral, ahead of the UK target of 2050;
Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 and other interim targets possible;
Work with other governments (both within the UK and internationally) to determine and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5°C;
Continue to work with partners across the city region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans;
Set-up a Citizens’ assembly to enable views of the general public to be taken into account.
Report to Full Council within six months with the actions the Council will take to address this emergency. As discussed with officers an action plan with clear quantifiable milestones should be submitted to Full Council in December 2019.16 July 2019, Worcester City Council, England, UK, population 101,328
Motion text is here. Minutes are here.
Excerpt:
Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
Pledge to make the city of Worcester carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3)*;
Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible;
Work with other governments (both within the UK and internationally) to determine and implement best practice methods to limit Global Heating to less than 1.5°C;
Continue to work with partners across the city and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans;
Appoint the already budgeted new Environmental Sustainability Officer in a timely way, create a cross-party steering group and report to Environment Committee on 28th January 2020 on actions the Council will take with key stakeholders to address this emergency. This work will be led by the Chair of the Environment Committee.16 July 2019, Newark & Sherwood District Council, England, UK, population 121,566
Motion text is here (but was amended to remove the citizens’ working group). Minutes are here.
· Declares a Climate Emergency;
· Notes that we need to develop measures and set targets to contribute to the challenge of keeping global temperature rises below 1.5°C; and
· Will take the following measures:
(a) to establish a Newark and Sherwood District Climate Change working group to respond to this challenge, that meets in public with wide representation including from all party groups;
(b) set a target for Newark and Sherwood District to be carbon neutral and develop an action plan by the end of 2020 that will achieve this;
(c) to provide a Climate Change impact assessment on every decision the council makes, within every service review undertaken and every planning application considered;
(d) to work with other local authorities and public, private and voluntary sector partners on carbon reduction projects;
(e) to lobby the Government for the necessary resources and powers so that Newark and Sherwood District Council can make its contribution to the UK’s Carbon Reduction targets; and
(f) to provide and publish an annual review of measures taken by Newark and Sherwood District Council and their impact on the District’s carbon footprint.16 July 2019, Chelmsford City Council, England, UK, population 168,310
Minutes of meeting are here.
Excerpt:
• Declare a ‘Climate and Ecological Emergency’ that requires urgent action to
make the Council’s activities net-zero carbon by 2030;
• Achieve 100% low carbon energy across the Council’s full range of functions by 2030;
• Ensure that all strategic decisions, budgets and approaches to planning decisions are in line with a shift to net-zero carbon by 2030;
• Support and work with all other relevant agencies towards making the City of Chelmsford and surrounding area net-zero carbon within the same timescale;
• Ensure that Officers and political leadership teams within Chelmsford City Council embed this work in all areas and take responsibility for reducing, as rapidly as possible, the carbon emissions resulting from the Council’s own activities;
• Ensure that any recommendations are fully costed and that the Executive and Overview & Scrutiny bodies regularly review Council activities, taking account of production and consumption emissions, and produce an action plan within 12 months together with budget actions and a measured baseline;
• Request that the Council’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee considers the impact of Climate Change and the Environment when reviewing Council policies and strategies;
• Work with, influence and inspire partnerships across the city to help deliver this goal through all relevant strategies, plans and shared resources by developing a series of meetings, educational events for City Council staff and the wider community and partner workshops focusing on the Climate and Ecological Emergency;
• Request that the Council and its partners take steps to proactively include young people in the process, ensuring that they also have a voice in shaping the future;
• Establish a Chelmsford Climate Change Partnership within the remit of the Chelmsford Policy Board, involving councillors, residents, young people below voting age, academics and other relevant parties, to prioritise carbon reduction measures, identify related benefits to employment, health, agricultural and transport sectors and develop a strategy in line with the ‘net-zero carbon by 2030’ target;
• Establish a baseline for Chelmsford’s ecological status and monitor progress year on year;
• Report on the level of Council investment in the fossil-fuel industry and review the City Council’s investment strategy to give due consideration to Climate Change impacts in their investment portfolio;
• Ensure that all reports in preparation for the 2020/21 budget cycle and investment strategy note the actions the City Council will take to address this Emergency;
• Call on the UK Government to provide such new powers and resources as are necessary to make this possible, and to work within the LGA to encourage other councils to back this plan.16 July 2019, Hertfordshire County Council, England, UK, population 1,184,365
16 July 2019, Barrow Borough Council, England, UK, population 67,137
Agenda motion P3 is here. Minutes are here.
Excerpt:16 July 2019, Crediton Town Council, England, UK, population 7,835
Minutes Item 1907/064 is here.17 July 2019, Wandsworth London Borough Council, England, UK, population 326,474
Article and motion is here. Minutes are here.
Excerpt:
resolves to:
1) declare a climate emergency;
2) aim to be net carbon neutral by 2030;
3) aim to be carbon zero by 2050;
4) continue the Council’s work to improve energy efficiency and reduce its carbon
footprint;
5) endorses the proposed Environmental and Sustainability Strategy which commits
the Council to continue all relevant OSC, Executive and officer activities to produce a
comprehensive climate action plan by the end of 2019 which will deliver these
objectives;
6) work with partners across the Borough to deliver these new goals;
7) Expedite the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) review of our
pensions investments with particular reference to decarbonisation and climate
change;
8) continue to campaign strongly against Heathrow expansion17 July 2019, Crawley Borough Council, England, UK, population 112,448
Full motion text is here.
Excerpt:
1.Declare a Climate Emergency
2.Pledge to aim to reduce carbon emissions generated by Crawley Borough Council activities by at least 45% by 2030 and to zero by 2050 as recommended by the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC).
3.Call upon central government to provide the powers and resources to make these targets possible.
4.Work with other councils and partners to determine and implement best practice methods to reduce carbon emissions and so limit Global Heating to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius
5.Request that the Overview and Scrutiny Commission (OSC) urgently sets up a Scrutiny Panel to look into and make recommendations focusing upon the workings and activities of Crawley Borough Council relating to carbon emissions and to report to Council as soon as is practicable. Council further requests that OSC co-opts a member or members of the Youth Council to the Scrutiny Panel.
6.Request that the Head of Corporate Finance will undertake a review of the ethical investment policy in the Treasury Management Strategy with a view to incorporating the Council’s climate change declaration.
7.Encourage all Crawley residents to commit to the West Sussex CountyCouncil Climate Pledge published in May 2019.17 July 2019, Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council, England, UK, population 326,088
Full motion text in minutes of the meeting is here.
Excerpt:
This Council will:
Work with our GM neighbours and other key stakeholders to make the Council’s activities net-zero carbon by 2038 or sooner, and to support other relevant agencies to help make the entire GM region zero carbon within the same timescale;
Improve our air quality, meeting World Health Organisation guidelines on air quality by 2030 and supporting the UK Government in meeting and maintaining all threshold for key air pollutants at the earliest date. Promote our move to a circular economy, recycling 65% of our municipal waste by 2035 and reducing the amount of waste we produce.
….17 July 2019, Melton Borough Council, England, UK, population 51,100
17 July 2019, Liverpool City Council, England, UK, population 494,814
PROGRESS SO FAR:
15 August 2019: Awarded an additional £652,000 by the Government to complete its clean air plan focusing on reducing carbon emissions from transport
Motion text is here. Minutes are here.
Excerpt:
Action is required to eliminate the impact on climate change of our behaviours, actions and policies. Liverpool City Council will work to eliminate the impact on Climate Change by its own estate and activities to zero carbon by 2030. The City will work with individuals and partners across the city to support them to reach a net zero carbon position by 2030.
Council welcomes initiatives already undertaken by Liverpool to impact on its environmental sustainability, including delivering in an expected 42% reduction in the city’s carbon production by 2020. (figures obtained from Council Briefing)
Council also pays tribute to the many efforts of individuals, civic society, companies and public sector organisations who have made changes and adopted new ways of living, working and leisure in order to move towards a zero carbon lifestyle. However, it recognises that governmental action at all levels will not meet the levels of climate change mitigation required without a cultural change in the way that individuals and businesses think about the effects of their own actions.
Council believes the UK Government and Liverpool City Region need to greatly increase efforts to meet the challenge of mitigating climate breakdown.17 July 2019, Broxtowe Borough Council, England, UK, population 113,272
Motion text is here.
Excerpt:
1. Declare a “Climate Emergency” that requires urgent
action.
2. Produce a new Carbon Management Plan, which will
include the setting of a net carbon neutral target for
Broxtowe Borough Council by 2027.
3. Ensure that political and chief officer leadership
teams embed this work in all areas and take
responsibility for reducing, as rapidly as possible, the
carbon emissions resulting from the Council’s
activities, ensuring that any recommendations are
fully costed and that the Executive and Scrutiny
functions review council activities taking account of
production and consumption emissions and produce
an action plan within 12 months, together with budget
actions and a measured baseline.
4. Integrate this commitment into the new Broxtowe
Borough Council four-year Corporate plan which will
be produced in the next few months.
5. Request that the Council and partners take steps to
proactively include young people in the process,
ensuring that they have a voice in shaping the future
6. Include an assessment of climate and sustainability
impact in all relevant reports to committees.
7. Ensure that all reports in preparation for the 2020/21
budget cycle and investment strategy will take into
account the actions the council will take to address
this emergency.
8. Work with, influence and inspire partners across the
district, county and region to help deliver this goal
through all relevant strategies, plans and shared
resources by developing a series of meetings, events
and partner workshops.17 July 2019, Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council, England, UK, population 185,426
PROGRESS SO FAR:
10 January 2020: Established a resident-led Climate and Ecological Emergency Commission to spearhead Climate Emergency work. The commission is made up of a small group of residents chosen for their passion and expertise. Actions include fining idling motorists.
17 July 2019, South Gloucestershire Council, England, UK, population 279,027
Motion text is here.
17 July 2019, Elmbridge Borough Council, England, UK, population 136,626
Motion text is here.
Excerpt:
1. Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
2. Pledge to make Elmbridge carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both
production and consumption emissions; and
3. Report to full Council within six months setting out the immediate action the
council will take to address this emergency, offer best efforts to forecast
progress towards meeting the 2030 target and produce a methodology to
compare the borough with other local lower tier districts.17 July 2019, Colchester Borough Council, England, UK, population 192,523
Agenda Item 8(ii) is here.
Excerpt:
1. Declare a climate emergency and publicise this to the people of Colchester Borough to raise awareness and support the public to take effective action.
2. Support the newly formed Conservation and Environmental Sustainability Task and Finish Group to consider the following actions:
a. Commission an environmental audit which identifies pollution hotspots, wildlife biodiversity and environmental health issues, and an urban impact assessment with an aim to identify areas of improvement across the borough.
b. Consult expert opinions in the field, as appropriate.
c. Collaborate with regional and neighbouring local authorities, as well as communities, to encourage practical measures to reduce emissions, reduce carbon footprints and develop community-based renewable energy projects.
d. Encourage all sectors of the economy across the borough to take steps to reduce waste and become carbon neutral.
e. Develop a roadmap for Colchester Borough Council to go carbon neutral by 2030.
f. Report to Cabinet and Full Council within six months with an action plan setting out conservation and environmental sustainability goals to address targets by 2030; incorporating proposals on the investment implications of this proposed activity.
3. Pledge to ensure future housing and community development projects meet a carbon-neutral standard by 2029.
4. Call upon the Leader of the Council to write to the Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth requesting that national policy is urgently developed to reflect the seriousness of the current emergency, and to release funds to local authorities, encouraging them to take the necessary measures at local level.17 July 2019, Chesterfield Borough Council, England, UK, population 104,628
Agenda Item 5 is here.
Excerpt:
(a) declares unequivocally that our town and borough, country and planet are facing a CLIMATE EMERGENCY;
(b) agrees to establish a Chesterfield Climate Change working group to respond to this challenge, with representation from key borough stakeholders including our schools, college and university, the private sector and community and voluntary organisations, including Transition Chesterfield, Chesterfield Climate Alliance and young people’s representative groups, with the shared purpose of enabling Chesterfield to become a low carbon, resilient and sustainable borough;
(c) invites the working group to report back and make recommendations to Full Council on a realistic date for Chesterfield to be carbon neutral, and to develop a costed action plan, by March 2020, setting out the required work to achieve this outcome;
(d) resolves to work with other local authorities and public, private and voluntary sector partners on carbon reduction projects;
(e) calls on the Government to provide the necessary resources and powers for Chesterfield Borough Council to achieve its ambition of becoming a carbon neutral town and borough.17 July 2019, Wolverhampton City Council, England, UK, population 262,008
Motion text is here. Minutes are here.
Excerpt:
– Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’ that requires urgent action;
– Make the Council’s activities net-zero carbon by 2028;
– Ensure that all strategic decisions, budgets and approaches to planning and regulatory decisions are in line with a shift to zero carbon by 2028;
– Support and work with all partners in the City towards making the city zero carbon within the same timescale;Ensure that all Council leadership teams embed this work in all areas and take responsibility for reducing, as rapidly as possible, the carbon emissions resulting from the Council’s activities;
– The Council’s Scrutiny Panels consideringthe impact of climate change and the environment when reviewing Council policies and strategies;
– Work with, influence and inspire partners across the city, Black Country, Combined Authority and wider region, to help deliver this goal through all relevant strategies and plans;
– Develop “Future Generations: Climate Change and Energy Strategy” and present this for agreement atFull Council in January 2020;
– Proactively include young people in the process, ensuring that they are involved in the co-production and co-design of the Future Generations Strategy and have a voice in shaping the future of the City;
– Welcome the appointment of a CouncillorChampion for Climate Change, and request the Sustainability Advisory Group to develop its role to provide oversight of the Future Generations Strategy;
– Report on the level of investment in the fossil fuel industry that the West Midlands pension fund has, and request a review of the investment strategy to give due consideration to climate change impacts in the investment portfolio;
– Ensure that all reports in preparation for forthcoming budget cycles take into accountthe actions the Council will take to address this emergency;
– Call on the UK Government to provide the powers, resources and help with funding to make this possible, and ask local MPs to do likewise.17 July 2019, Cannock Chase District Council, England, UK, population 100,109
Motion text Item 9(i) is here.
Excerpt:
1.Join other Councils in declaring a Climate Emergency, and commit to the vision of carbon neutrality by 2030 at the latest.
2.Continue to call on Westminster to provide the necessary powers and resources to make local action on climate change easier.
3.Encourage this Council to explore the expansion of community energy to keep the benefits of our local energy generation in our local economy.
4.Continue to work with partners anchored in the area to deliver carbon reductions and grow the local economy.
5.Establish a Citizens Assembly made up of a representative range of our citizens to establish the facts and make recommendations for our council.17 July 2019, Rochdale Borough Council, England, UK, population 220,001
Agenda Item 5 is here. Minutes are here.
Excerpt:
• declare a climate emergency;
• work towards ensuring that the borough is carbon neutral by 2050, in line with the Mayor and the Government’s targets. Achieving this will require significant investment and policy initiatives from the Government, and Council hopes it would be achieved earlier than 2050;
• work towards ensuring that the Council is carbon neutral by 2030, recognising the leadership role it has in the borough;
• develop a working group to support the Council move from declaration to delivery drawing in cross sector expertise, capacity and capability. The working group should draw on existing expertise within the borough as well as including residents who are representative of the borough as a whole;
• set in place a process of engagement and collaborative action that enables an action plan to be considered by Cabinet and Council in early 2020, based on achieving the aforementioned targets.17 July 2019, Dacorum Borough Council, England, UK, population 154,280
Agenda Item 5 is here.
Excerpt:
1.Join other councils at all levels of Local Government in declaring a climate emergency that requires urgent planning and action, and commits to work towards reducing carbon emissions across the full range of council activities to net zero by the end of budget year 2029/30, this to include the production of a strategy and action plan to make the activities of Dacorum Borough Council carbon neutral by 2030 in accordance with the IPCC recommendation
2.Evaluate all practical means to reduce then impact of council services on the environment as soon as possible.
3.Work with the established groups of Hertfordshire Public Sector Organisationsto review their services and implement measures to reduce their impact on theenvironment and climate breakdown.
4.Urge the two Dacorum Members of Parliament to impress upon Central Government the need for regulations and resources that will support communities to meet the goal of carbon neutrality by 2030.
5.Ensure the new Local Plan and associated regulations when adopted contains all available measures to cut carbon emissions and reduce the impact on the environment.
6.Having regard for the duties required under the General Fund Account and the Housing Revenue Account, and consider the use of available reserves to introduce improvements to social housing energy efficiency.
7.Implement evolving environmental best practice wherever/whenever there is an opportunity to re-specify services at reasonable and cost-effective intervals.
8.Engage with local residents and businesses, in all sectors of our communities to publicise this declaration and gain their active support in reducing and preventing environmental harms and tackling climate change by making wise, early, significant choices towards achieving carbon neutrality and environmental sustainability.17 July 2019, Salford City Council, England, UK, population 254,408
Motion text in agenda Item 15 is here. Minutes are here.
Excerpt:
Therefore, Salford City Council agrees:
– To declare a ‘climate emergency’.
– To establish a new task and finish group, with a remit to:
oSeek advice from experts to develop a 5 Year carbon budget and set a challenging target date of 2038 for carbon neutrality in Salford;
oConsider systematically the climate change impact of each area of the Council’s activities;
oMake recommendations and set an ambitious timescale for reducing these impacts;oTo assess the feasibility of requiring all risk and procurement assessments to include CarbonEmission Appraisals, including presenting alternative approaches which reduce emissions wherever possible. oReport to full Council with the actions the Council needs to take to address this emergency.
– To task a Director level officer with responsibility for reducing as rapidly as possible, the carbon emissions resulting from the Council’s activities.
– To equip all our staff with an awareness of the CO2 costs and impacts of everyday activities, and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions through widespread Carbon Literacy
– To produce a report to the next Full Council on the levelof investment in the fossil fuel industry that our pensionsplan and other investments have.
– That the City Mayor will write to the Prime Minister to inform her that Salford City Council has declared a climate emergency and ask her to provide the resources and powers necessary to deal with it
17 July 2019, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, England, UK, population 118,054
17 July 2019, West Lancashire Borough Council, England, UK, population 113,949
Minutes are here.
Excerpt:
1.Join with other Councils in declaring a Climate Emergency, and have a vision of, and aspire to carbon neutrality by 2030 at the latest.
2.Continue to call on Westminster to provide the necessary powers and resources to make local action on climate change easier.
3.Work to explore the expansion of community energy to keep the benefits of our local energy generation inour local economy.
4. Continue to work with partners anchored in West Lancashire to deliver carbon reductions and grow the local economy.
5.Encourage local councillors to take action in their communities, with a view to establishing a Citizens Assembly made up of a range of representatives from our local citizens to establish the facts and make recommendations for our council.
6. That the following comments be forwarded to the Local Plan Cabinet Working Group for consideration:
(i)As part of the current local plan review, consider the new housing numbers planned to reflect only the numbers required each year for local need.
(ii) Consider, through the new local plan, all new homes built to be built to zero carbon home design codes.
(iii) Consider, through the new local plan, all new commercial properties including warehouses to be built to the highest carbon reduction design codes and to offset through, e.g. tree planting, any remaining carbon emissions
(iv) Encourage through policies in the new local plan, additional planting of woodland in West Lancashire
7.That the Housing Portfolio Holder be asked to consider initiating through the council’s housing capital account, a multi-year programme of insulation and other energy efficiency measures to the Borough’s council housing stock.18 July 2019, South Tyneside Council, England, UK, population 150,265
Excerpt:
1. Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
2. Take all necessary steps to make the borough of South Tyneside carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3);
3. Set an interim target of cutting carbon emissions in the borough by at least 60% by 2025;
4. Lead by example and commit to making South Tyneside Council and all its operations carbon neutral by 2023;
5. Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make meeting these targets possible;
6. Produce a comprehensive Action Plan for the next five years which will be operational within six months. The Plan will detail how the Council will meet both of its 2023 and 2025 carbon reduction targets, and set annual carbon reduction targets;
7. Ensure that fairness and community empowerment are at the heart of all climate policies by establishing a Citizens’ Assembly, comprised of people of all demographics, to ensure that the formation and implementation of the Action Plan serves
to benefit our most vulnerable communities.
South Tyneside Council
18 July 2019
8. Be accountable to the public by publishing a bi-annual report detailing emission reduction progress and feedback from the Citizens’ Assembly. The conclusions of this report will be discussed every six months at a Full Council meeting.
9. Ensure that all strategic decisions, budgets, and policy documents are in-line with a shift to zero carbon by 2030;18 July 2019, East Hampshire District Council, England, UK, population 120,681
Excerpt:
1 Declare a Climate Emergency.
2 Pledge to make East Hampshire District Council carbon neutral by 2030.
3 Set up a cross party working group to include officers, councillors and key local stakeholders including schools, colleges and youth groups to provide ideas of achieving a carbon neutral East Hampshire District by 2030 and carbon Zero by 2050.
4 Report to Full Council within 6 months (to be made publicly available) settingout the immediate and longer-term actions that the Council will take and how it plans to measure the districts progress towards meeting the 2030 target.This report will also include a full review of the implementation and outcomesof the East Hampshire District Council Energy Strategy 2014-2019.
5 Work with partners and other Local Authorities across the South region to deliver these new goals of being Carbon neutral by 2030 through developingstrategies and implementation plans which draw on local and national best practice where available.
6 To actively lobby the Government to provide the additional powers and resources needed to meet the 2030 targets.
7 To prioritise mitigating the impact of Climate change in an updated East Hampshire District Council Corporate Strategy.
8 To consider the impact and mitigation of climate change on all policy and key decision making and carrying out a green audit across the Council to ensure that this is being implemented.
9 To encourage plastic free alternatives and ban the use of single use plastics within all council employee premises. Implement an ethical procurement framework to ensure suppliers reduce their own carbon footprint.
10 To expand infrastructure for walking, cycling, and public transport and to actively promote greater use of electric vehicles.18 July 2019, Rugby Borough Council, England, UK, population 107,194
• establishing a cross party working group to advise on the actions and timescales required to make the Council’s activities carbon neutral by 2030. The working group will report initial findings and recommendations back to Cabinet within 6 months;
• engaging with partner councils (specifically Warwickshire County Council and Warwickshire’s 5 District and Borough Councils), local businesses, environmental groups and residents to inform our future actions; and
• where required, call on Government to provide the powers and resources to enable Rugby Borough Council to help deliver the UK’s carbon reduction targets.18 July 2019, Harrow London Borough Council, England, UK, population 250,149
Excerpt:
1.Join other councils indeclaring a Climate Emergency;
2.Call on the UK Government to provide the necessary powers and resources to make local action on climate change easier;
3.Aim to make London borough of Harrow carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption of emissions;
4.Create a working group of officers and members to urgently review and make recommendations to Council for actions that the local authority can take in order to achieve this target;
5.Continue to work with across London and through the LGA to deliver widespread carbon reductions.18 July 2019, Eastleigh Borough Council, England, UK, population 131,819
PROGRESS SO FAR:
November 2019: Released 2020-2030 strategy and interim emergency action plan
Council news article and motion text is here. Minutes are here.
Full motion text:
“Council reaffirms its existing commitment by joining other local authorities and institutions in declaring a Climate Change and Environmental Emergency. In doing so it agrees to:
put in place measures to ensure that the Council’s own operations and functions achieve carbon neutrality by 2025,
work with partners to aim for all projects and services delivered in the
Borough to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030,
ensure that the Council’s procurement policy recognises carbon neutrality as one of the primary considerations,
recognise the urgency of action to mitigate and adapt to climate change in every decision taken by the Council,
establish a cross-party working group to develop a plan for how the Borough of Eastleigh could achieve carbon neutrality by 2030,
to be Chaired by the Cabinet Lead for the Environment and to include representatives from within the local community and businesses,
to report to Council within six months with a new Climate Change Strategy alongside immediate actions the Council will take to address this emergency,
to be followed by a detailed Action Plan to be developed to include reporting requirements and assessment of the associated resource implications; and
include all of the recommendations above in a revised Climate Change Strategy to be completed and approved by Council in 2019-20.18 July 2019, Wokingham Borough Council, England, UK, population 167,979
PROGRESS SO FAR
25 July 2019: Announced that solar power will be installed on the borough’s schools, leisure centres, libraries and suitable council-owned properties
3 January 2020: Set aside £24 million in budget for climate actions, including:
Solar farm sites to be built in borough
Council hopes to launch its own energy company
Green Bank will lend residents cash to fund greener homes
250,000 trees to be planted across borough
Push for environmentally friendly transport networks
Bid to include school pupils in carbon neutral plans
Plan to boost recycling so crisp packets can become benches
Education programme to raise awareness of schemes
24 January 2020: Published climate emergency action plan
20 February 2020: Allocated 10% of budget to climate emergency action
Agenda item 28.2 is here. Minutes are here.
Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) believes the world is now in a climate emergency. More concerted and urgent action is needed at local, national and international level to protect our planet for future generations. As such, this Council commits to playing as full a role as possible –leading by example as well as by exhortation –in achieving a carbon neutral Wokingham Borough by 2030 and report within six months as to what actions are required.18 July 2019, Darlington Borough Council, England, UK, population 106,566
Excerpt:
a) Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
b) Sign up to a science-based carbon reduction target that is consistent with achieving the Paris Agreement of no more than 1.5’C global temperature increase;
c) Work with nurseries, schools and colleges to include age appropriate learning about climate change while calling for the national curriculum to be reformed to include “the ecological crisis as an educational priority”;
d) Work to make the borough of Darlington carbon neutral by 2030 and call on central government to provide the funding and powers to make this possible;
e) Work with other organisations and governments within the UK and internationally to determine and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5°C;
f) Work with partners to run a conversation with residents, Trade Unions, public sector organisations, businesses and the third sector on developing a plan with the actions and milestones required to reach this target;
g) Report the progress to Full Council every 6 months.18 July 2019, Keswick Town Council, England, UK, population 5,243
18 July 2019, Canterbury City Council, England, UK, population 164,553
Agenda Items 9 and 10 (several proposed motions) can be viewed here. Minutes are here.
(b) That in response to this emergency the Council sets a target to reduce its carbon emissions to net zero by 2030 in its corporate plan and set annualtargets to meet this commitment ensuring robust, transparent monitoring is in place.
(c)That all future reports to council include an Environmental ImpactAssessment.
(d) That a councillor working group be set up to oversee the development of the Council’s approach to climate change including drawing up a strategy andaction plan to reduce its carbon emissions to net zero by 2030;
(e) That there be an annual report back to this Committee on progress made in implementing actions to reduce carbon emissions; with an interim report after six months;
(f) That the Council lobbies the government on climate change and seeks to be a pilot authority for government initiatives in this area;
(g) That the Council works with all stakeholders including housing developers and builders and with other public bodies and organisations in the District and across Kent to jointly reduce carbon emissions, including setting up a Canterbury Climate Change Board to develop a joint action plan with thosebodies;
(h)That officers report back to this Committee on how the reprovision of the Council’s Military Road offices can be made at least carbon neutral;
(i)That in setting up the new refuse collection LATCO and letting its next park and ride contract the Council seeks to provide the most environmentally friendly method of service delivery;
(j)That the review of the local plan and the transport strategy be used to improvethe energy efficiency and carbon neutrality of future developments;
(k)That £500,000 be set aside in a climate change reserve to fund one off actions required to meet carbon reduction targets (to be funded from theGeneral Fund reserve);
(l)That a citizens assembly, as a first priority, be explored by the Councillor Working Group and Climate Change Board; and that crowd funding of carbon reduction initiatives and independent peer review of the council progress towards its reduction in emissions also be assessed.
(m)That the Council agrees to add a member to the Plastic Free Herne Baystrategic group and that it supports plastic free initiatives in the area; and
(n)That the information provided in response to the resolutions of the April Policy and Resources Committee in appendices 3 and 4 to the report of the 17 July 2019 Policy and Resources Committee be noted.18 July 2019, Adur & Worthing Councils, England, UK, population 173,894
Minutes are here.
Agenda motion is here.
Excerpt:
2. agreed to go beyond the previously set 2050 target adopted by Adur &
Worthing Councils in 2018 and work towards becoming carbon neutral by
2030;
3. called on the government to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible;
4. agreed to continue to work with partners across the county and region to deliver this goal; and
5. requested the production of an outline strategy on how the Councils would work towards the carbon neutral target. The strategy was to be produced by 30 January 2020 at the latest.18 July 2019, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, England, UK, population 148,942
Motion text in agenda is here.
Excerpt:
Commit to a target of making Blackburnwith Darwen carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3 of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol – GHG Protocol establishes comprehensive global standardised frameworks to measure and manage greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from private and public sector operations, value chains and mitigation actions).
Request an update report within six months setting out the immediate actions the Council has taken and will take to address this emergency and a plan to measure annual borough-wide progress towards meeting the 2030 target.
Work with partners across our towns and across the region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans and drawing on local and global best practice.
Actively lobby the Government to provide the additional powers and resources needed to meet the 2030 target.18 July 2019, Sefton Council, England, UK, population 273,790
Minutes P11 are here.
Excerpt:
Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’ that requires urgent action.
Make the Council’s activities net-zero carbon by 2030.
Commit to municipalisation of energy supply by utilising public sector sitesto generate energy where appropriateEnsure that all strategic decisions are in line with a shift to zero carbon by 2030.
Support and work with all other relevant agencies towards making the Sefton area Zero Carbon within the same timescale.
Achieve 100% clean energy across Sefton Council’s full range of functions by 2030.
Convene an assembly of interested groups not directly represented on Council in 2020 to oversee and feed into the development of related actionplans and budgets across the Borough.
And to take the following actions:
…18 July 2019, Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council, England, UK, population 175,729
Agenda Item 20 is here.
Excerpt:
1.Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
2.Make Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council operations carbon neutral by Dec 2025by ensuring that 100% of its heating and electrical needs are meet from renewable sources and cease the purchase and/or lease of any vehicle that is not low carbon;
3.Pledge to work towards making Basingstoke & Deane net zero carbon by 2030, ahead of the current 2050 target, ensuring that reducing carbon emissions is embedded in all relevant Council decision making;
4.Develop carbon reduction pathways, climate compliant strategies and plans, working with the County Council, LEP and other partners in both the public and private sector to prioritise all opportunities to introduce such zero carbon and sustainable policies, action plans and targets;
5.Undertake a Local Plan review where the Borough proposes policies for adoption in all areas that will drive zero carbon and sustainable development in Basingstoke & Deane;
6.Ensure local people are able to contribute to the formulation and
scrutiny of the strategic actions needed to address the environment and climate emergency by consulting on proposals and by organising an annual ‘Tackling the Environment and Climate Emergency’ meeting, hosted by the CEP Committee, in addition to the wide-range of existing opportunities for local people to make representations to the Council;
7.Receive a report in early 2020 on what strategic actions the Council is taking to address the environment and climate emergency, including an action plan and milestones to achieve emissions reductions within the Council’s control, and to share details of representations being made to other institutions to achieve reductions in emissions outside of the Council’s direct control.18 July 2019, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, England, UK, population 182,463
Minutes P19 are here.
1.ensuring action is taken to achieve net-zero carbon by 2030 if not earlier for its activities, supporting and working with all other relevant agencies towards making the Borough zero carbon by that date and that all strategic decisions, budgets and approaches to planning decisions are aligned with a shift to zero carbon and achieving 100% clean energyacross the Council’s full range of functions by 2030 if not earlier, as partof the Borough’s 2050 Vision;
2.ensuring that this work is embedded within all political and senior officer leadership teams in all areas to effect the reduction, as rapidly as possible, of carbon emissions resulting from the Council’s activities, with any recommendations fully costed and that the Executive and Scrutiny Committees review Council policies, strategies and activities taking account of production and consumption emissions and produce an action plan within 12 months, together with budget actions and a measured baseline. This leadership to be led across the Council by key roles selected by the Chief Executive and the Cabinet.
3.working with, influencing and inspiring partners across the Borough and region to help deliver this goal through all relevant strategies, plans andshared resources and sets up a Climate Change Partnership group, involving Councillors, residents, climate science and solutions experts, businesses and other relevant parties, and in particular the young peoplewho will have to live with the consequences of our actions, to consider strategies and actions being developed by the Council and other partner organisations and develops a strategy in line with a target of net zero emissions by 2050 if not earlier, including ways to maximise local benefits of these actions in other sectors;
4.reporting on the level of investment in the fossil fuel industry alongside sustainable and renewable energy schemes that our pensions plan andother investments have, and review the Council’s investment strategy to give due consideration to climate change impacts in the investment portfolio;
5.ensuring that all reports in preparation for the 2020/21 budget cycle and investment strategy will take into account the actions the Council will lead and take to address this emergency;6.considering other actions that could be implemented, such as renewable energy generation and storage, providing electric vehicle infrastructure and encouraging alternatives to private car use, increasing the efficiency of buildings, in particular to address fuel poverty;
proactively using local planning powers to accelerate the delivery of net carbon new developments and communities, coordinating a series of information andtraining events to raise awareness and share good practice19 July 2019, West of England Combined Authority (WECA), England, UK, population 938,150
Decision text P7-8 is here.
1. The challenge and threat of the current climate emergency.
2. The huge significance of climate change and its impact on the health, safety and wellbeing of our residents, and the very real concerns of residents on these issues.
3. The foresight and leadership shown on this issue and positive actions being taken by the West of England authorities; and welcomes the respective motions agreed recently by these councils on the climate emergency and actively taking up the challenge of achieving carbon neutrality.
4. That a huge amount of work is taking place across the region and that the West of England has already made a strong commitment to clean and inclusive economic growth.
To declare a climate emergency and continue to work with West of England authorities and The West of England Local Enterprise Partnership to agree an action plan to underpin the West of England Energy Strategy, recognising this will be a key tool in seeking the additional government investment necessary to enable us to deliver the ambitious target of carbon neutrality by 2030;
progress reports will be brought to the West of England Combined Authority Committee, the West of England Joint Committee and the Combined Authority Overview & Scrutiny Committee on a 6 monthly basis.22 July 2019, Sutton Borough Council, England, UK, population 204,525
PROGRESS SO FAR:
22 December 2019: New action plan developed