18 Devon Climate Declaration (00-41-48) PDF 706 KB
To receive a report of the Chief Executive requesting Members to consider the declaration of a climate change emergency.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Council had before it a *report of the Chief Executive requesting Members to consider the declaration of a climate change emergency.
He outlined the contents of the report stating that Devon County Council had declared a climate emergency. They had committed to facilitating the reduction of Devon’s carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050 at the latest and had formed the Devon Climate Emergency Response Group to enable strategic partners to collaborate on producing a Devon-wide Carbon Plan.
The Chairman MOVED that:
a) The council adopts the statement at Appendix A outlining the Devon Climate Change Declaration.
b) The council agrees to work to the Devon-wide target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
c) The council continues to work, through the DCERG and other mechanisms as appropriate, to collaborate on producing a Devon-wide Carbon Plan.
d) The council directs the Environment Policy Development Group (PDG) to act as the initial owner of this policy activity within the council; with future PDG meetings considering how best to determine the council’s own policy response(s) such as may then be subsequently recommended to cabinet and council in the normal way.
Councillor L D Taylor MOVED AN AMENDMENT (on behalf of Councillor J Wright), seconded by Councillor Miss E Wainwright
This council is significantly concerned that the environmental crises must be a priority. We will aim for Mid Devon to be carbon neutral by 2030 and all decisions made by the council will be considered in light of the climate crisis.
This council will lobby central government for the finances and powers to act effectively to undertake the necessary measures to ensure the climate crises can be limited to 1.5 degrees and be carbon neutral by 2030.
It is recommended that:
The council adopts the statement at Appendix A outlining the Devon Climate Change Declaration.
The council agrees to work to the Devon-wide target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 but will aim for Mid Devon to be carbon neutral by 2030 and all decisions made by the council will be considered in light of the climate crisis
The council continues to work, through the DCERG and other mechanisms as appropriate, to collaborate on producing a Devon-wide Carbon Plan.
This council will lobby central government for the finances and powers to act effectively to undertake the necessary measures to ensure the climate crises can be limited to 1.5 degrees and be carbon neutral by 2030
The council directs the Environment Policy Development Group (PDG) to act as the initial owner of this policy activity within the council; with future PDG meetings considering how best to determine the council’s own policy response(s) such as may then be subsequently recommended to cabinet and council in the normal way.
A debate then took place with the following issues arising:
· The need to act now to protect children and grandchildren
· 2050 was too far away and that the amendment suggesting that Mid
Devon aim to be carbon neutral by 2030 should be supported
· The growing support for ... view the full minutes text for item 18