Agenda item

To consider any motions, notice of which has been given under the Council’s rules of procedure.

 

(a)       Climate Emergency

 

Proposed by: Councillor S. Neville

Seconded by: Councillor J. Philip

 

“That the Council notes that:

 

(i)         humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt around the world. Global temperatures have already increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm). This far exceeds the 350-ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity;

 

(ii)        in order to reduce the chance of runaway Global Warming and limit the effects of Climate Breakdown, it is imperative that we as a species reduce our CO2eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes per person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible;

 

(iii)      individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs to change its laws, taxation, infrastructure, etc., to make low carbon living easier and the new norm;

 

(iv)      carbon emissions result from both production and consumption;

 

(v)       Epping Forest District Council has already shown foresight when it comes to addressing the issue of Climate Breakdown, having signed the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change, written an Environment Sustainability Policy and Action Plan, and have worked to use renewable energy and energy efficiency and have had a Green Working Party driving the agenda for some years;

 

(vi)      unfortunately, our current plans and actions are not enough. The world is on track to overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050;

 

(vii)     he IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, published in the autumn of 2018, describes the enormous harm that a 2°C rise is likely to cause compared to a 1.5°C rise, and told us that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities;

 

(viii)    councils and Parliaments around the world are responding by declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and committing resources to address this emergency;

 

That the Council believes that:

 

(ix)      all governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of Climate Breakdown, and local governments that recognise this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies. It is important for the residents of Epping Forest District and the UK that local authorities commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible;

 

(x)       the consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are so severe that preventing this from happening must be humanity’s number one priority;

 

(xi)      bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities (as well as improved well-being for people worldwide); and

 

That the Council resolves to:

 

(xii)     declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;

 

(xiii)    pledge to do everything within the Council's power to make Epping Forest District Council area carbon neutral by 2030;

 

(xiv)    call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible;

 

(xv)     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;

 

(xvi)    continue to work with partners across the district and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans;

 

(xvii)   in the special circumstances of this district, resolves to protect the Special Area of Conservation through the Local Plan and every other means; and

 

(xviii)  implement an Air Quality Strategy and bring forward sustainability guidance on planning.”  

 

Background paper received on 5 September 2019.

 

Motions, if any, will follow if not received in time to be incorporated into the agenda.

(a)          Climate Emergency

 

Moved by Councillor S. Neville and seconded by Councillor J. Philip

 

“That the Council notes that:

 

      i.        humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt around the world. Global temperatures have already increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm). This far exceeds the 350-ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity;

 

     ii.        in order to reduce the chance of runaway Global Warming and limit the effects of Climate Breakdown, it is imperative that we as a species reduce our CO2eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes per person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible;

 

    iii.        individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs to change its laws, taxation, infrastructure, etc., to make low carbon living easier and the new norm;

 

   iv.        carbon emissions result from both production and consumption;

 

     v.        Epping Forest District Council has already shown foresight when it comes to addressing the issue of Climate Breakdown, having signed the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change, written an Environment Sustainability Policy and Action Plan, and have worked to use renewable energy and energy efficiency and have had a Green Working Party driving the agenda for some years;

 

   vi.        unfortunately, our current plans and actions are not enough. The world is on track to overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050;

 

  vii.        the IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, published in the autumn of 2018, describes the enormous harm that a 2°C rise is likely to cause compared to a 1.5°C rise, and told us that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities;

 

 viii.        councils and Parliaments around the world are responding by declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and committing resources to address this emergency;

 

That the Council believes that:

 

   ix.        all governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of Climate Breakdown, and local governments that recognise this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies. It is important for the residents of Epping Forest District and the UK that local authorities commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible;

 

     x.        the consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are so severe that preventing this from happening must be humanity’s number one priority;

 

   xi.        bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities (as well as improved well-being for people worldwide); and

 

That the Council resolves to:

 

  xii.        declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;

 

 xiii.        pledge to do everything within the Council's power to make Epping Forest District Council area carbon neutral by 2030;

 

 xiv.        call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible;

 

  xv.        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;

 

 xvi.        continue to work with partners across the district and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans;

 

xvii.        in the special circumstances of this district, resolves to protect the Special Area of Conservation through the Local Plan and every other means; and

 

xviii.        implement an Air Quality Strategy and bring forward sustainability guidance on planning.”  

 

Amendment moved by Councillor H. Whitbread and seconded by Councillor S.Neville

 

“ That the Council engage with young people when considering the issue of climate change and appoint a ‘Youth Ambassador’ from the Epping Forest Youth Council.”

 

Carried

 

Motion as amended ADOPTED

 

            RESOLVED:

 

            That the Council notes that:

 

(i)    humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt around the world. Global temperatures have already increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm). This far exceeds the 350-ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity;

 

(ii)   in order to reduce the chance of runaway Global Warming and limit the effects of Climate Breakdown, it is imperative that we as a species reduce our CO2eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes per person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible;

 

(iii)  individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs to change its laws, taxation, infrastructure, etc., to make low carbon living easier and the new norm;

 

(iv)  carbon emissions result from both production and consumption;

 

(v)   Epping Forest District Council has already shown foresight when it comes to addressing the issue of Climate Breakdown, having signed the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change, written an Environment Sustainability Policy and Action Plan, and have worked to use renewable energy and energy efficiency and have had a Green Working Party driving the agenda for some years;

 

(vi)  unfortunately, our current plans and actions are not enough. The world is on track to overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050;

 

(vii) the IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, published in the autumn of 2018, describes the enormous harm that a 2°C rise is likely to cause compared to a 1.5°C rise, and told us that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities;

 

(viii)        councils and Parliaments around the world are responding by declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and committing resources to address this emergency;

 

That the Council believes that:

 

(ix)  all governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of Climate Breakdown, and local governments that recognise this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies. It is important for the residents of Epping Forest District and the UK that local authorities commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible;

 

(x)   the consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are so severe that preventing this from happening must be humanity’s number one priority;

 

(xi)  bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities (as well as improved well-being for people worldwide); and

 

That the Council resolves to:

 

(xii) declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;

 

(xiii)        pledge to do everything within the Council's power to make Epping Forest District Council area carbon neutral by 2030;

 

(xiv)       call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible;

 

(xv) 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;

 

(xvi)       continue to work with partners across the district and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans;

 

(xvii)      in the special circumstances of this district, resolves to protect the Special Area of Conservation through the Local Plan and every other means;

 

(xviii)     implement an Air Quality Strategy and bring forward sustainability guidance on planning; and

 

(xix)       engage with young people when considering the issue of climate change and appoint a ‘Youth Ambassador’ from the Epping Forest Youth Council.”