Motion from Councillor Cartwright, seconded by Councillor Gibbens:
“This Council recognises that we face a climate change emergency and resolves to work both internally and with others to try to ensure that all decisions are taken with a view to reversing the current disastrous trend”.
Amendment to motion proposed by Councillor Cartwright and seconded by Councillor Gibbens:
“Council notes:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Carbon emissions result from both production and consumption.
5. Society’s current plans and actions are not enough. The world is on track to surpass the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degree Celsius limit before 2050.
6. The IPCC’s special report on global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius, published In October 2018, describes the enormous harm that a 2 degree Celsius rise is likely to cause compared to a 1.5 degree Celsius, and told us that limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities.
7. Local councils around the world are responding by declaring a ‘climate emergency’ and committing resources to address this emergency.
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council believes that:
1. 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 Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council and all other councils to commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible.
2. Towns, cities and local authorities at all tiers are uniquely placed to lead the world in reducing carbon emissions, they are well placed to help decarbonise villages and more remote areas as they have closer links with their residents who can affect change and are directly affected by the impact of not doing so.
3. Bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities, as well as improved personal, social and environmental well-being for people, locally and worldwide.
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council will:
1. Declare a ‘climate emergency’.
2. Pledge to do what is within our powers, to work towards making Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions.
3. Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources necessary for Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council to achieve the target of becoming carbon neutral by 2030, and to implement best practice methods to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
4. Report to Council within six to nine months with an action plan, outlining how the Council will address this emergency. The action plan will detail the leadership role Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council will take in promoting community, public, business and other council partnerships to achieve this carbon neutral 2030 commitment throughout the borough. The action plan will also outline the staff time and resources required to undertake the actions to achieve the targets.
5. Investigate all possible sources of external funding and match funding to support this commitment.”
Minutes:
Councillor Cartwright, seconded by Councillor Gibbens, had submitted the following motion:
“This Council recognises that we face a climate change emergency and resolves to work both internally and with others to try to ensure that all decisions are taken with a view to reversing the current disastrous trend”.
Prior to the meeting, Councillor Cartwright, seconded by Councillor Gibbens had submitted the following amendment:
“Council notes:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Carbon emissions result from both production and consumption.
5. Society’s current plans and actions are not enough. The world is on track to surpass the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degree Celsius limit before 2050.
6. The IPCC’s special report on global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius, published In October 2018, describes the enormous harm that a 2 degree Celsius rise is likely to cause compared to a 1.5 degree Celsius, and told us that limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities.
7. Local councils around the world are responding by declaring a ‘climate emergency’ and committing resources to address this emergency.
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council believes that:
1. 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 Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council and all other councils to commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible.
2. Towns, cities and local authorities at all tiers are uniquely placed to lead the world in reducing carbon emissions, they are well placed to help decarbonise villages and more remote areas as they have closer links with their residents who can affect change and are directly affected by the impact of not doing so.
3. Bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities, as well as improved personal, social and environmental well-being for people, locally and worldwide.
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council will:
1. Declare a ‘climate emergency’.
2. Pledge to do what is within our powers, to work towards making Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions.
3. Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources necessary for Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council to achieve the target of becoming carbon neutral by 2030, and to implement best practice methods to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
4. Report to Council within six to nine months with an action plan, outlining how the Council will address this emergency. The action plan will detail the leadership role Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council will take in promoting community, public, business and other council partnerships to achieve this carbon neutral 2030 commitment throughout the borough. The action plan will also outline the staff time and resources required to undertake the actions to achieve the targets.
5. Investigate all possible sources of external funding and match funding to support this commitment.”
During discussion, the following points were raised:
· Similar motions being put to local authorities across the world
· The possibility of a cross-party working group
· The need to consider our own housing stock, particularly as part of the decent homes and boiler replacement programmes
· The need to consider climate change implications in every service.
Upon being put to the vote, the motion as amended was unanimously
RESOLVED –
(i) Council declares a Climate Emergency;
(ii) Council pledges to do what is within its powers to work towards making Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption costs;
(iii) Council calls on Westminster to provide the powers and resources necessary for Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council to achieve the target of becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and to implement best practice methods to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius;
(iv) A report be brought to Council within six to nine months with an action plan outlining how the council will address this emergency. The action plan will detail the leadership role Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council will take in promoting community, public, business and other council partnerships to achieve this carbon neutral 2030 commitment throughout the borough. The action plan will also outline the staff time and resources required to undertake the actions to achieve the targets;
(v) All possible sources of external funding and match funding be investigated to support this commitment.