Agenda item

To receive the motion proposed by Cllr D Turner seconded by Cllr B Quayle

In accordance with the Constitution, Procedure Rule 14.3 (b) the motion will be forwarded to the Climate Change Executive Advisory Panel for consideration and report back to Full Council.

The following motion was proposed by Cllr D Turner, seconded by Cllr B Quayle and supported by Cllrs J Andrews, G Taylor, J Dunseith, K Wheller, R Knox and B Ridout:-

“Dorset Council notes:

that the impacts of climate breakdown are already causing serious damage around the world. 

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.

Governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to act.  Strong policies to cut emissions also have associated health, wellbeing and economic benefits; and that recognising this, a growing number of UK local authorities have already passed 'Climate Emergency' motions.

Dorset Council therefore commits to:

Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’ that requires urgent action.

Make the Council’s activities net-zero carbon by 2040 or earlier.

Achieve 100% clean energy across the Council’s full range of functions by 2040 or earlier.

Ensure that all strategic decisions, budgets and approaches to planning decisions are in line with a shift to zero carbon by 2040 or earlier.

Support and work with all other relevant agencies towards making the entire area zero carbon within the same timescale; Suggested interim targets are:

30% by 2025, 60% by 2030 and 85% by 2035, these figures have been selected because it is the last few % that are hardest to eradicate from the system. Having these targets dates will concentrate minds.

Ensure that political and chief officer leadership teams embed this work in all areas and take responsibility for reducing, as rapidly as possible, the carbon emissions resulting from the Council’s activities, ensuring that any recommendations are fully costed and that the Executive and Scrutiny functions review council activities taking account of production and consumption emissions and produce an action plan within 12 months, together with budget actions and a measured baseline;

Dorset Council Scrutiny Panels will consider the impact of climate change and the environment when reviewing Council policies and strategies;

Work with, influence and inspire partners across the district, county and region to help deliver this goal through all relevant strategies, plans and shared resources by developing a series of meetings, events and partner workshops;

And that Dorset Council and partners take steps to proactively include young people in the process, ensuring that they have a voice in shaping the future;

Report on the level of investment in the fossil fuel industry that our pensions plan and other investments have, and review the Council’s investment strategy to give due consideration to climate change impacts in the investment portfolio;

Ensure that all reports in preparation for the 2020/21 budget cycle and investment strategy will take into account the actions the council will be required to take to address this emergency;

Call on the UK Government to provide the powers, resources and help with funding to make this possible, and ask local MPs to do likewise;

Consider other actions that could be implemented, including (but not restricted to): renewable energy generation and storage, providing electric vehicle infrastructure and encouraging alternatives to private car use, increasing the efficiency of buildings, in particular to address fuel poverty; proactively using local planning powers to accelerate the delivery of net carbon new developments and communities, coordinating a series of information and training events to raise awareness and share good practice.”

Decision

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