MOTIONS ON NOTICE
To consider the Motion on Notice received from Councillor Malvisi:
“This Council pledges to:
1. Acknowledge a climate emergency.
2. Set up a Task Force, commencing by September 2019, to examine ways in which Babergh & Mid Suffolk Councils will respond to the climate change challenge on a spend to save basis, with the ambition to make Babergh & Mid Suffolk Councils carbon neutral by 2030.
3. To work with partners across the county and region, including the LEP and the Public Sector Leaders, towards the aspiration of making the county of Suffolk carbon neutral by 2030.
4. To work with Government to a) deliver its 25-year Environment Plan and b) increase the powers and resources available to local authorities in order to make the 2030 target easier to achieve.
Proposer: Councillor Elisabeth Malvisi
Seconder: Councillor John Ward
Minutes:
12.1 The Chair invited Councillor Malvisi to move the Motion on Notice.
12.2 Councillor Malvisi began by advising Members on some background information including:
· That the United Nations Inter-Governmental panel on climate change warned that there were twelve years to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 centigrade, and that failure to do so would see a marked increase in sea levels and flooding, severe changes in weather patterns, crop failure, extinction of animals and global economic crisis.
· That failure to take action would have a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of the population including Babergh residents and billions of people around the world.
· At the global climate talks in December 2018 the UK signed up together with two hundred countries and agreed action on Climate change with a much greater role applied for Local and regional authorities in assisting Government in achieving their carbon emissions savings.
· Eighty-five local authorities had so far passed a climate emergency Motion to reduce their carbon footprint and to promote sustainable urban environments and economies.
· Tackling climate change could not be left to the Government alone but was the responsibility of everybody to stop the threat to the planet.
12.3 As the portfolio holder for Environment, Councillor Malvisi would like Council to resolve to support the environmental sustainability task force and to consider the following actions:
· A commission and environmental audit to identify pollution hotspots;
· An urban assessment with an aim to identify areas of improvement across the district;
· Consult experts in the field as appropriate;
· Collaborate with neighbouring and regional authorities and communities to encourage practical measures to reduce carbon footprints and to develop community renewable energy projects;
· Encourage all sectors across the district to take steps to reduce waste and become carbon neutral;
· Develop a road map for Babergh District to go carbon neutral by 2030;
· Report to Cabinet and Full Council within six months of the task force starting with an action plan setting out conservation and environmental sustainability goals to address the targets by 2030;
· Incorporate proposals on the investment implications of this proposed activity;
· Write to the Minister of State for Clean Energy and Clean Growth and state that national policy is urgently developed to reflect the seriousness of the current emergency and to release funds to authorities encouraging them to take the necessary measures at local level.
12.4 Councillor Malvisi then read the Motion to Members:
“This Council pledges to:
1. Acknowledge a climate emergency.
2. Set up a Task Force, commencing by September 2019, to examine ways in which Babergh & Mid Suffolk Councils will respond to the climate change challenge on a spend to save basis, with the ambition to make Babergh & Mid Suffolk Councils carbon neutral by 2030.
3. To work with partners across the county and region, including the LEP and the Public Sector Leaders, towards the aspiration of making the county of Suffolk carbon neutral by 2030.
4. To work with Government to a) deliver its 25-year Environment Plan and b) increase ... view the full minutes text for item 12