Agenda item

Climate & Biodiversity Emergency

“The United Nations (UN) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that we have 12 years to make the necessary changes to limit a rise in global temperatures to 1.5C.  Failure to act will see a marked increase in sea levels and flooding, extreme and abrupt changes to weather patterns, crop failures, extinctions of plant, insect and animal species and global economic disruption and crisis.  The increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events that we have experienced locally and nationally highlight why this is such an important issue for Team Doncaster to respond to.

At the Global Climate Talks in Poland last December, the UK along with over 200 nations agreed action on climate change with a much greater role strongly implied for Local and Regional Authorities like Doncaster Council, in assisting Governments to achieve their carbon emission savings.

It should also be noted at the UN Secretary-General António Guterres will host the 2019 Climate Action Summit in New York next Monday 23rd September, to meet the climate challenge.  The Summit will showcase a leap in collective national political ambition and reinforce the drive needed to rapidly accelerate action to implement the Paris Agreement.

This Council therefore:-

·           Believes that climate change and sustainability are amongst the biggest issues of the 21st Century, and the effects of manmade and dangerous climate change are already manifestly occurring;

·           Declares a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency;

·           Notes that our current international targets are inadequate to respond to the challenge of keeping global temperature rises below 1.5C; and

·           Notes the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) detail that we are already seeing the consequences of a 1°C of global warming through more extreme weather, rising sea levels and diminishing Arctic sea ice, among other worrying changes.

We Request that Council:-

·           Sets a new target and action plan for Doncaster Council to become carbon neutral;

·           Resolves to work with our partners, other local authorities and the Yorkshire Region on carbon reduction projects, to ensure the UK is able to deliver on its climate commitments;

·           Resolves to put sustainability, biodiversity and carbon reduction at the heart of this Council’s agenda going forward supporting communities, business and individuals locally to make more sustainable choices; and

·           Calls on the Government to provide the resources and powers so that Doncaster can make its contribution to the UK’s Carbon Reduction targets.”

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16.1, a Motion was submitted by Mayor Ros Jones, and Seconded by Councillor Dave Shaw:-

Climate & Biodiversity Emergency

“The United Nations (UN) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that we have 12 years to make the necessary changes to limit a rise in global temperatures to 1.5C.  Failure to act will see a marked increase in sea levels and flooding, extreme and abrupt changes to weather patterns, crop failures, extinctions of plant, insect and animal species, and global economic disruption and crisis.  The increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events that we have experienced locally and nationally highlight why this is such an important issue for Team Doncaster to respond to.

At the Global Climate Talks in Poland last December, the UK along with over 200 nations agreed action on climate change with a much greater role strongly implied for Local and Regional Authorities like Doncaster Council, in assisting Governments to achieve their carbon emission savings.

It should also be noted that the UN Secretary-General António Guterres will host the 2019 Climate Action Summit in New York next Monday 23rd September, to meet the climate challenge.  The Summit will showcase a leap in collective national political ambition and reinforce the drive needed to rapidly accelerate action to implement the Paris Agreement.

This Council therefore:-

·      Believes that climate change and sustainability are amongst the biggest issues of the 21st Century, and the effects of manmade and dangerous climate change are already manifestly occurring;

·      Declares a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency;

·      Notes that our current international targets are inadequate to respond to the challenge of keeping global temperature rises below 1.5C; and

·      Notes the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) detail that we are already seeing the consequences of a 1°C of global warming through more extreme weather, rising sea levels and diminishing Arctic sea ice, among other worrying changes.

We request that Council:-

·      Sets a new target and action plan for Doncaster Council to become carbon neutral;

·       Resolves to work with our partners, other Local Authorities and the Yorkshire Region on carbon reduction projects, to ensure the UK is able to deliver on its climate commitments;

·       Resolves to put sustainability, biodiversity and carbon reduction at the heart of this Council’s agenda going forward supporting communities, business and individuals locally to make more sustainable choices; and

·       Calls on the Government to provide the resources and powers so that Doncaster can make its contribution to the UK’s Carbon Reduction targets.”

The Chair afforded all Members in the Chamber the opportunity to speak on the Motion.

A vote was taken on the Motion proposed by Mayor Ros Jones, which was declared as follows:-

For – 45

Against – 0

Abstain – 0

On being put to the meeting the Motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED that this Council notes that the United Nations (UN) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that we have 12 years to make the necessary changes to limit a rise in global temperatures to 1.5C.  Failure to act will see a marked increase in sea levels and flooding, extreme and abrupt changes to weather patterns, crop failures, extinctions of plant, insect and animal species, and global economic disruption and crisis.  The increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events that we have experienced locally and nationally highlight why this is such an important issue for Team Doncaster to respond to.

At the Global Climate Talks in Poland last December, the UK along with over 200 nations agreed action on climate change with a much greater role strongly implied for Local and Regional Authorities like Doncaster Council, in assisting Governments to achieve their carbon emission savings.

It should also be noted that the UN Secretary-General António Guterres will host the 2019 Climate Action Summit in New York next Monday 23rd September, to meet the climate challenge.  The Summit will showcase a leap in collective national political ambition and reinforce the drive needed to rapidly accelerate action to implement the Paris Agreement.

This Council therefore:-

·      Believes that climate change and sustainability are amongst the biggest issues of the 21st Century, and the effects of manmade and dangerous climate change are already manifestly occurring;

·       Declares a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency;

·      Notes that our current international targets are inadequate to respond to the challenge of keeping global temperature rises below 1.5C; and

·      Notes the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) detail that we are already seeing the consequences of a 1°C of global warming through more extreme weather, rising sea levels and diminishing Arctic sea ice, among other worrying changes.

We request that Council:-

·         Sets a new target and action plan for Doncaster Council to become carbon neutral;

·         Resolves to work with our partners, other Local Authorities and the Yorkshire Region on carbon reduction projects, to ensure the UK is able to deliver on its climate commitments;

·         Resolves to put sustainability, biodiversity and carbon reduction at the heart of this Council’s agenda going forward supporting communities, business and individuals locally to make more sustainable choices; and

·         Calls on the Government to provide the resources and powers so that Doncaster can make its contribution to the UK’s Carbon Reduction targets.”