cedamia

THE MOTION WAS PUT AND CARRIED AND BECAME THE COUNCIL RESOLUTION AS
FOLLOWS:

Council Resolution
MOVED: Cr. T. McCarthy
SECONDED: Cr. S. Amir
That:
(1) Council recognises that we are in a state of climate emergency that requires urgent
action by all levels of government, including by local councils.
(2) Council establishes an Energy and Environment Working Group to further develop
Council proposals for a Darebin Energy Foundation and a Darebin Nature Trust, as
proposed by four elected Councillors during the recent Council elections. The Working
Group will comprise the Mayor and all Councillors who wish to participate and will be
supported by relevant Council officers. The Working Group will meet on a regular basis
over coming months to develop proposals for Council’s consideration at a meeting in
February 2017.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Subsequently the following motion from a Darebin Councillor was passed by the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) state council with a 77% majority.

Motion 56. Climate Change

Submitting Council: Darebin City Council

Motion:

That the MAV recognise that:

(a) we are in a state of climate emergency that requires urgent action by all levels of government, including local councils

(b) human induced climate change stands in the first rank of threats to humans, civilisation and other species

(c) it is still possible to restore a safe climate and prevent most of the anticipated long-term climate impacts – but only if societies across the world adopt an emergency mode of action that can enable the restructuring of the physical economy at the necessary scale and speed;

(d) the MAV has a particular role in assisting local governments in this regard.

Action Plan

On May 29, 2017, Darebin Council made their new Climate Emergency Plan available for public consultation. Then, in August, the plan was officially adopted.

Download the full text or a Summary of the Darebin Climate Emergency Plan.

The resolution:

COUNCIL RESOLUTION
Moved: Councillor McEvoy Seconded: Councillor Coleman
1. Council notes this Delegates Report.
2. Council recognises that we are in a state of climate emergency that requires
urgent action by all levels of government, including by local councils.
3. Council recognises that the technology, expertise and capacity exists for
humans to mitigate and adapt to this global challenge, but that collaboration
and action is essential.
4. Council resolves to renew our commitment to collaborate with other Councils
and Governing bodies through forums such as NAGA in order to take collective
action to reduce the carbon emissions of our municipalities.
5. That Council Officers indicate to NAGA by February 28 options available at
Yarra City Council regarding hosting NAGA, detailing the in-kind support that
Yarra can provide and the associated costs for NAGA, including (but not limited
to):
(a) basic rental of office space only (e.g. former Richmond Police Station);
and
(b) fully supported office space hosted within Council offices (e.g. at 345
Bridge Road).
CARRIED

See the minutes of the meeting.

The bipartisan resolution, co-sponsored by council members and mayoral candidates Ravinder Bhalla and Jennifer Giattino, concludes:

WHEREAS, Hoboken must be a leader in the fight to protect our country by embarking on a climate mobilization;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Hoboken will officially endorse a citywide mobilization to attempt carbon-neutrality by 2027 and initiate an effort to reduce and remove greenhouse gas emissions.

See the pdf showing the full City of Hoboken resolution.

The resolution:

The Montgomery County Council calls upon the national Administration, the Congress,
the State, and other local governments to join Montgomery County, to use all available
powers and resources to:
1. declare a climate emergency and initiate a massive global mobilization to
restore a safe climate and build a sustainable economy;
and
2. transform the climate by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2027 and reaching
100% elimination by 2035, and initiate large-scale efforts to remove excess carbon from the atmosphere.

See the full text of the Montgomery County resolution.

The resolution:

Council Decision Item 14.1

Moved: Cr Loden, Seconded: Cr Gontaszewski

That Council:

1. AFFIRMS its support for addressing climate change within the City of Vincent;

2. ENDORSES the position expressed in the Western Australian Local Government Association’s Draft Climate Change Policy Statement that there is a climate emergency which requires urgent action by all levels of government to avoid an unacceptable burden on future generations;

3. REQUESTS that the Draft Sustainable Environment Strategy be presented to Council for advertising by March 2019 to support decision making in the 2019/20 Budget and Corporate Business Plan;

4. REQUESTS that the Sustainable Environment Strategy include the following measures:

4.1. Set a target of zero net carbon emissions by a defined date;

4.2. Set a target of zero net carbon emissions from stationary energy by a defined date;

4.3. Include plans to support the uptake by the community of electric vehicles and other technology that can achieve zero emissions vehicles within the City of Vincent;

4.4. Include plans for the City to create an electric vehicle fleet or other technology that can achieve zero emissions as part of forward purchasing practice; and

5. REQUESTS that administration give consideration to the carbon emissions which result from the management of waste as part of the current Waste Management Strategy.

carried (8-1)

For: Presiding Member Mayor Cole, Cr Gontaszewski, Cr Castle, Cr Fotakis, Cr Hallett, Cr Loden, Cr Murphy and Cr Topelberg

Against: Cr Harley

See minutes of the meeting.

In October 2017 Los Angeles City Council announced the formation of a Climate Justice Mobilization 2025 working group, its mission being to achieve a carbon-neutral Los Angeles by 2025. Then, in April 2018 it became the first US city to set up a Climate Emergency Mobilization Department to oversee a citywide mobilization on climate change, including interdepartmental, intergovernmental and citywide coordination. Per the motion, the mobilization will be directed under the banner of a “just transition”.

The Subcommittee is charged with the integration of prevention, mitigation and adaptation efforts in response to climate change across the City of Berkeley departments, programs and commission and to coordinate a regional Climate Emergency Mobilization Town Hall.

See the pdf showing the full text of the Berkeley Climate Emergency Declaration.

Excerpt from the Richmond declaration:

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Richmond declares that we face a Climate Emergency that threatens our city, region, state, nation, civilization, humanity and the natural world; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Richmond calls for a Regional Just Transition and Climate Emergency Mobilization Collaborative Effort, inviting all leaders, agencies, and organizations in our regional community to initiate a climate emergency mobilization effort to restore a safe climate; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Richmond calls for an emergency mobilization effort to end citywide greenhouse gas emissions, educate residents about climate change, and work to advocate for a mass mobilization at the local, state, national, and global levels; and

See the pdf showing the full text of the Richmond USA declaration.

The resolution:

That Council:
1. Recognises that there is a state of climate emergency that needs to be handled by all levels of government
2. Endorses WALGA’s Policy Statement on Climate Change, as included in Appendix 18.1
3. Requests that the Administration create an action plan, in line with WALGA’s Policy Statement on Climate Change, and report back to the Future Planning Committee by December 2018.

See the minutes of the meeting.

As its meeting held on 4 July 2018, the Western Australia Local Government Association (WALGA) State Council endorsed a policy statement on climate change, which established the following policy positions:

Local Government acknowledges:
I. The science is clear: climate change is occurring and greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are the dominant cause.
II. Climate change threatens human societies and the Earth’s ecosystems.
III. Urgent action is required to reduce emissions, and to adapt to the impacts from climate change that are now unavoidable.
IV. A failure to adequately address this climate change emergency places an unacceptable burden on future generations.
Local Government is committed to addressing climate change. Local Government is calling for:
I. Strong climate change action, leadership and coordination at all levels of government.
II. Effective and adequately funded Commonwealth and State Government climate change policies and programs.

The resolution:

NOM40/18 CLIMATE EMERGENCY (D18/323701)
Cr Martin’s Motion:
That:
1. Council acknowledges we are in a state of climate emergency that requires urgent action by all levels of government, including local Councils.
2. Councillors receive a briefing from officers on how to best act on the ‘climate emergency’ acknowledgement and ensure this is embedded into future strategies and the next council action plan.
3. Council updates the Zero Carbon Evolution 2040 framework to embed the ‘climate emergency’ acknowledgement.
Resolution
Cr Martin moved, Cr Yildiz seconded –
That:
1. Council acknowledges we are in a state of climate emergency that requires urgent action by all levels of government, including local Councils.
2. Councillors receive a briefing from officers on how to best act on the ‘climate emergency’ acknowledgement and ensure this is embedded into future strategies and the next council action plan.
3. Council updates the Zero Carbon Evolution 2040 framework to embed the ‘climate emergency’ acknowledgement.
Cr Tapinos moved that the motion be amended to include an additional point as follows:
4. Amends the Municipal Emergency Management Plan to include this statement.
The amendment lapsed for want of a seconder
The substantive motion was carried unanimously

See minutes of the meeting.

Resolution text:

1. That Council:
a) notes the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC);
b) notes the Federal government’s latest emissions data showing we are increasing, not reducing our carbon emissions;
c) declares that we are in a state of climate emergency that requires urgent action by all levels of government, including by local councils, and
d) acknowledges that Byron Shire is likely to be substantially affected by climate impacts, particularly sea level rise, bushfires, drought and floods.

2. That the recommendation be added to the Agenda of the upcoming Sustainable Emission Reduction Advisory Committee meeting for their input to convene a community-led Climate Emergency Guidance Group that provides a report as to how Council may assist;

3. That the Guidance Group develops a Shire-wide Community Climate Emergency Plan to further enhance resilience and reduce climate impacts in a timeframe that is as fast as practicably possible;

4. That Council, calls upon the State and Federal Governments to:
a) declare a climate emergency, and
b) to back this up with legislated programs to drive emergency action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the lower of the Paris Agreements at 1.5%

5. That Council writes to the Member for Ballina, Tamara Smith, the Parliamentary Secretary for Northern NSW, Ben Franklin, the Member for Richmond, Justine Elliot, the NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton and the Federal Environment Minister Melissa Price, advising them of Council’s resolution and urges them to acknowledge a climate emergency and to act with urgency to address the crisis.

6. That Council encourages neighbouring Local Government Areas to join with us by declaring a climate emergency, developing their own Climate Emergency Plans and advocating to State and Federal governments as per point (5).

See minutes of the meeting.

See the full Oakland declaration of climate emergency resolution.

Excerpt from the resolution:

Full Council calls on the Mayor to:
1. Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
2. Pledge to make the city of Bristol carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3)5;
3. Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible;
4. 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;
5. Continue to work with partners across the city and region to deliver this new goal through
all relevant strategies and plans;
6. Report to Full Council within six months with the actions the Mayor/Council will take to address this emergency.

See Motion 2 in the Bristol Public minutes 13112018 1800 Full Council

The resolution:

That Council
1. Notes the recent October 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) report on climate change.
2. Notes the successful motion to the Municipal Association Victoria (MAV) May
2017 to recognise that we are in a state of ‘climate emergency’ that requires
urgent action by all levels of government, including local councils.
3. Acknowledges the ‘climate emergency’ and the need for urgent action by all
levels of government, including local councils.
4. Acknowledge the need for priority resourcing of the carbon neutral and 100%
renewables action plan and prioritisation of initiatives that move us towards
carbon neutrality and 100% renewables.
5. Councillors receive a briefing from officers on how to best act on this ‘climate
emergency’ acknowledgment and ensure that this is embedded into the ‘carbon neutrality and 100% renewables action plan’, council plan review and future strategies.

Moved: Cr Belinda Coates
Seconded: Cr Daniel Moloney
CARRIED (R335/18)

See the full minutes of the meeting.

Extract from the resolution:

NOW BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, the City of Santa Cruz declares that an existential climate emergency threatens our cities, towns, region, state, nation, civilization, humanity and the natural world.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Santa Cruz commits to consider revising its existing policy, priorities, processes, and distribution of resources to enable emergency climate action measures in the City.

See the full Santa Cruz resolution.

Excerpt from the resolution:

Therefore, Council agrees:

– To declare a ‘climate emergency’.

– To establish a new task and finish group, with a remit to:

(i) Seek advice from experts to develop a carbon budget and set a challenging target date for carbon neutrality in Trafford;

(ii) Consider systematically the climate change impact of each area of the Council’s activities;

(iii) Make recommendations and set an ambitious timescale for reducing these impacts;

(iv) Report to full Council with the actions the Council needs to take to address this emergency.

See here or Motion 10c in the agenda for the climate emergency declaration resolution text.

Resolution:

Full Council thus:
1. Declares a ‘Climate Emergency’;
2. Pledge to make the town of Totnes carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions (scope 1,2,3);
3. Call on Devon County Council, South Hams District Council and Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible and to appoint Citizens assemblies to develop the policies to deliver this target;
4. Work with other local authority organisations such as DALC (Devon Association of Local Governments) and appropriate government departments (both within the UK and internationally) to determine and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels;
5. Continue to work with partners across the district, county and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans;
6. Place this issue on Council Committee agendas to agree strategies and action plans.
7. Report to Full Council within six months with the actions the Council will take to address this emergency.

See pp31-33 for the full Totnes Town Council climate emergency declaration statement
Totnes Town Council climate emergency declaration statement.

Recommendations
1. Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’
2. Pledge to make Frome carbon neutral by 2030;
3. Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target
possible
4. Sign up to the Covenant of Mayors;
5. Develop a detailed plan of action and report back to council in six months time.
6. Reports to Council in six months with an update on the actions being taken to
address this emergency.

See Frome Agenda-item-5-For-decision-Climate-emergency-declaration

Extract from the resolution:

Full Council calls on Council to:
1. Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
2. Aim to make the Forest of Dean District Council and the district carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3), Ref 4
3. Call on the Government and other relevant organisations and partners to provide the powers, resources and funding to successfully meet the 2030 target;
4. Subject to receiving the necessary powers, resources and funding to:
a) Work with other councils and organisations (both within the UK and internationally) to determine and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5C; and
b) Ask the Leader to initiate work with partners across the district, county and region to help deliver carbon neutrality through all relevant strategies and plans.
5. As a first step, to actively investigate using a local green energy company as the Council’s energy provider.

See the full minutes related to this motion.

Motion passed by the London Assembly on 6 December 2018:

This Assembly notes that the IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, published in October 2018, describes the enormous harm that a 2°C rise is likely to cause compared with a 1.5°C rise, and confirms that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities and others.

This Assembly notes the Mayor’s climate change mitigation and adaptation responsibilities and recognises that he aims to make London a zero-carbon city by 2050 and would welcome further ambitious steps.

We welcome action by Bristol city council and other city councils around the world to declare and commit resources to tackling a ‘Climate Emergency’.

We urge the Mayor to declare a Climate Emergency, supported by specific emergency plans with the actions needed to make London carbon neutral by 2030, call on government to give him the powers and funding to make this possible and, as vice chair of the C40 Cities network, to be a leader on this agenda.

The Mayor had previously committed to making London a zero carbon city by 2050. See his 1.5C Compatible Plan (December 2018) outlining getting to zero carbon by 2050.

Excerpt from the resolution:

The Committee resolves:
To ask Stroud District Council to endorse the ‘Climate Emergency’ announced by the administration on 16 November 2018 and pledge to do everything within the Council’s power to make Stroud District carbon neutral by 2030.

To recommend to the Strategy and Resources Committee that initial funding of £200,000 from the business rate pilot gain, (expected to be a minimum of £500,000, and which has not been included in the base budget for expenditure) is ring-fenced to support scoping and delivery of the Stroud District Carbon Neutral 2030 Commitment.
These funds will support action:
1. To set out a Plan of Action, including clear targets and transparent reporting, to develop District wide Locally Determined Contributions to complement National Determined Contributions in line with the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5C.
…

See full text of the agenda item passed by the Environment Committee and endorsed by Council:
Stroud agenda-13-december-2018

Excerpt from proposal:

Further to this, Council:
(1) Declares its recognition of global climate and biodiversity emergencies;
(2) Requests the Policy, Resources & Growth Committee to:
– undertake a short review of BHCC governance policies and progress aimed at addressing locally these twin threats and to report on findings;
– consider a target date of 2030 for whole city carbon neutrality;
– consider how the Council can strengthen local protection and enhancement of species, habitats and ecosystems services under available powers;
(3) Request the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer stating
the concern of the Council with respect to the above, the likely national impact on
the economy and on the wellbeing of citizens, and requesting government funding be made available to implement swift appropriate actions in response.

See the Brighton and Hove City motion

The council resolved to complete a carbon audit and action plan to deliver sustained reductions in its carbon footprint, require reports to identify the impact of any proposals on its carbon footprint, and to form a working party to encourage the people of Oswestry to reduce carbon emissions and “become more resilient to climate change”.

[No minutes available yet]

They went on to:

1. Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
2. Launch an inclusive consultation to develop an action plan over the next 6 months to:
· make Machynlleth net-zero carbon as soon as possible;
· increase local resilience to climate impacts;
· maximise local benefits of these actions in other sectors such as health, agriculture, transport and the economy;
3. Call on Wales and UK Government to provide the support and resources to make this possible;
4. Work with other local areas, particularly the community councils and other partners in the Dyfi Biosphere;
5. Report within six months with the actions the town can take to address this emergency, for example increasing the energy efficiency of the Plas, or working with the town’s purchasing policy;
6. Agreed to discuss with Renew Wales how they might support this process.

Recommendations:

1. Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’ This will help to raise the profile of this vital issue and secure external support and funding.
2. Pledge to support Langport to become carbon neutral by 2030;
3. Call on Westminster and other Governmental authorities to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible
4. Sign up to the Covenant of Mayors;
5. Engage with local groups and businesses to develop a plan of action and report back to council in six months time.

Resolution:

It is proposed that Langport Town Council acknowledges the climate emergency and will work with the relevant community groups to champion becoming a carbon neutral community by 2030.

Tory Scarborough commits to carbon neutral by 2030

Text of the full motion.

The motion commits the borough council to:

1. Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
2. Pledge to do everything within the Council’s power to make the Borough of Scarborough carbon neutral by 2030.
3. Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible;
4. 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;
5. Continue to work with partners across the borough and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans;
6. Submit a bid as part of the Council’s budget setting process for an additional £80,000 to fund a ‘Sustainability’ Officer Post for a two year period to champion the scoping and delivery of the Borough Council’s Carbon Neutral 2030 commitment.