Decision details

The following motion was proposed by Cllr K Clayton seconded by Cllr M Roe and supported by Cllrs B Heatley, J Orrell, N Ireland, D Bolwell, R Tarr, B Ezzard, D Taylor, S Williams, M Rennie, D Tooke and R Hughes

“We know that climate breakdown is already causing serious damage around the world. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 2018 ‘Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C’ 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 confirms that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action. As many local councils now recognise, and as the outline 'Climate Emergency' motion we passed in May recognises, we have a duty to act NOW, and cannot wait for national governments to change their policies.

In this context, this motion proposes that Dorset Council commits to:

1.    Make the Council’s activities net-zero carbon by 2030;

2.    Work with partners and stake-holders to achieve the same across the whole of the Council area;

3.    Develop a Dorset wide transport strategy that discourages car use, encourages walking and cycling, and drastically improves rail and bus services;

4.    Develop an energy strategy that provides local renewable energy generation and storage, increases the efficiency of buildings and addresses fuel poverty;

5.    Develop a new Dorset Local Plan that ensures all planning decisions are consistent with a shift to net-zero carbon by 2030;

6.    End any investment by the Dorset Local Government Pension Fund in the fossil fuel industry or other activities that have an impact on climate change;

7.    Ensure that our net-zero carbon by 2030 ambition is reflected in ALL strategies and plans, that all policy papers include a Climate Impact Assessment;

8.    Require the cross-party climate change panel to report back to Council, within nine months, to provide a time table and action plan detailing how all the above can be achieved;

9.    Take steps to proactively consult and include the opinions of residents, particularly young people, in all of the above, and consider setting up citizens’ assemblies; and

10. Call on the UK Government to provide the powers, resources and help with funding to make this possible, and lobby local MPs to do likewise.”

Decision

That the Notice of Motion be referred to the Climate Change Executive Advisory Panel for consideration and report back to Full Council.