Agenda item

Proposer:       Cllr Mahaffey

Seconder:      Cllr Carruthers

Council notes:

1.        That the ‘Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C’, published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in October 2018, (a) describes the enormous harm that a 2°C average rise in global temperatures is likely to cause compared with a 1.5°C rise, and (b) confirms that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society and the private sector.

2.        All levels of government (national, regional and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of climate breakdown.

3.        At present the world is on track to overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050. 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.

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

5.        Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has already made positive progress, but more can be done. The Independent Panel on Climate Change in its October 2018 report was very clear that action from all parts of society is necessary and local government has a responsibility to lead the way.

6.        Bold local climate action can deliver economic and social benefits in terms of new green jobs, economic savings and market opportunities, as well as much improved well-being for Basingstoke and Deane residents – for example through encouraging healthy, active travel and improving green spaces and access to nature.

7.        Councils around the world are responding by declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and taking action to address this emergency.

Council requests that:

1.        This Council declares a ‘Climate Emergency’;

2.        Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council pledges to make its activities carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions;

3.        We receive a report to full Council within six months setting out immediate actions the Council will take to address this emergency;

4.        We ensure that all strategic decisions, budgets and approaches to planning decisions are in line with a shift to zero carbon by 2030;

5.        We request that the Council’s Cabinet and Policy and Scrutiny Committees consider the impact of climate change and the environment when implementing and reviewing Council policies and strategies, with 'Environmental Impact' listed in reports and documents;

6.        We support, influence and inspire other relevant agencies, businesses and residents within our Borough towards making the entire area zero carbon within the same timescale and to consider their other obligations to our natural environment such as the use of single use plastics;

7.        We actively lobby the Government to provide additional powers and resources needed to meet the 2030 target;

8.        We work collaboratively with local groups such as Basingstoke Transition Network and the Basingstoke Clean Air Campaign to develop effective strategies and policies to reach net zero emissions by 2030.

The Motion was withdrawn.