Futures Forum: Climate change > County Council declares 'climate emergency' but fails to commit to becoming carbon neutral by 2030
Likewise, the district council seemed rather lacklustre:
Futures Forum: Climate change: District Council prefers to wait and see...
They now seem to have had a change of heart, as reported by Devon Live:
East Devon District Council aims to set more ambitious target than 2050 to become carbon neutral
At their cabinet meeting last week, the district council’s cabinet agreed to work with the county council to tackle climate change in areas where meaningful change could be made.
Daniel Clark Local Democracy Reporter
15:57, 9 APR 2019
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CLIMATE CHANGE PROTEST IN EXETER
East Devon District Council will work with Devon County Council on a shared climate change reduction programme – but will aim to be more ambitious in terms of becoming carbon neutral.
Devon County Council declared a ‘climate emergency’ in February and agreed to forge ahead with a countywide partnership to ensure that Devon is carbon neutral by 2050.
At their cabinet meeting last week, the district council’s cabinet agreed to work with the county council to tackle climate change in areas where meaningful change could be made. But they also agreed to consider setting a more ambitious date for becoming carbon neutral and a further report would be brought back as to how this could be achieved.
John Golding, the Strategic Lead Housing, Health & Environment, outlined how the latest evidence indicates that radical action is required that has a genuine positive impact on climate change.
He said: “I propose indicating to Devon County Council that we support their concerns around climate change and want to work with them to combat the worst effects of global warming, sea rise and environmental pollution. Change will need to be dramatic and we will need to see different lifestyle and consumption patterns going forward and we need to play our part. We can influence locally and can work to reduce emissions.”
Leader of the council, Cllr Ian Thomas said that it was good the report had stimulated a lot of positive discussion rather than being nodded through.
He said: “We do to be more aggressive in what we want to do, and if I get the chance to, I will create a responsibility to drive change to deliver carbon neutrality significantly earlier. What we do needs to be more than something that is just stuck on a shelf and people forget where we put it. There needs to be specific initiatives that are in the remit we can deliver. There is no point debating things that we have no control over whatsoever, but we need to look at what we can do. It is nice to have the Devon County Council position as a backstop, but let us treat it as just that and try and do better.”
Councillors agreed with the principles of the report, but said that so much more needed to be done.
Cllr Mike Howe challenged the council to be much more ambitious. He said: “This is a great report but it needs to be more ambitious. We should take 25 years off, it and if we don’t hit it, then at least we have done our best. I would rather that than being conservative and having an estimate miles down the track. The date is wrong and need to be curtailed to a much tougher target.”
Cllr Roger Giles said he was ‘deeply disappointed’ that they were just following the county position. He said: “We are looking to take action to be carbon neutral by 2050 which is 31 years away. This is not good enough and we need to do more, and we need to grasp this and not play around the edges. We should be ahead of the county council rather than following them.”
He added that Devon has two coastlines which could be used to create energy from the wind and sun, but the government rather than supporting renewable energy instead supported fracking.
Cllr Steve Gazzard added: “We have contributed to the mess that we are in and I am prepared to say I was one of them, but I am now very conscious of recycling and trying to do my best.” He added that he was very impressed that schoolchildren making a stand on this with their recent protest, and called for them to be invited to a forum and to have a proper discussion with them about ideas to tackle climate change, saying: “We need to listen to what the next generation are saying.”
Cllr Brian Bailey questioned why council vehicles were running on diesel rather than LPG or electricity, but Mark Williams, the council’s chief executive, said that it was something they looked into for the refuge contract but either the technology didn’t exist or it was so prohibitively expensive the council couldn’t justify going with it.
The council’s portfolio holder for the environment, Cllr Tom Wright, said that they needed to lead by example and that he was constantly moaning about vehicle drivers who leave their engines running on the side of the road. He said: “We should also be responsible and that when drivers stop, they switch their engines off. It might have a small effect and will send the message that we do care and we should get the example.”
He also said that the council could do more in terms of generating solar power ‘if we didn’t have NIMBY’s who object whenever someone tries to put a solar farm in the AONB’.
Cllr Iain Chubb called for the power of water to be harnessed as towns as built on streams and rivers used to use waterwheels to grind corn, so that could be used to produce some green energy and Cllr Geoff Pook said that going forward, environmental impacts should be added to cabinet reports so that the costs or benefits to the environment where known, so that if something was cheaper but had a high environmental cost, the decision could be evaluated.
The cabinet unanimously agreed to work with Devon County Council on a shared climate change programme but to consider setting a more ambitious date for becoming carbon neutral than Devon’s 2050 target.
East Devon District Council aims to set more ambitious target than 2050 to become carbon neutral - Devon Live
And here are the minutes from that cabinet meeting:
EAST DEVON DISTRICT COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held at Council Chamber, Blackdown House, Honiton on 3 April 2019
193: Environmental sustainability and climate change emergency
The Strategic Lead Housing, Health & Environment presented the report which explored, highlighted and refreshed EDDC’s environmental commitments and contributions towards addressing climate change.
The council was well placed to influence, promote and lead local initiatives to protect and enhance the environment, which was consistent with the valuing the outstanding environment theme in the Council Plan. There was logic in all local authorities working together on this agenda and the report proposed that EDDC work with Devon County Council following their recent consideration of a climate change emergency motion. DCC have said that they would be working with strategic partners across the county to ensure the county was doing what it could to reduce carbon emissions as well as ensure Devon was carbon neutral by 2050.
Discussions included the following:
Global warming was the greatest threat to mankind, we should be bringing forward the date for Devon to be carbon neutral
Devon has 2 coastlines which could be used to create energy from the wind and sun
There was no Government support for renewable energy
Vehicles used by EDDC were still using diesel fuel and not LPG which was better for air quality Cabinet 3 April 2019
Younger people should be able to voice their concerns and listened to through proper discussions; there were the next generation to which climate change would have the most impact
Fabric manufacturing took up a lot of energy. Clothes labelling should indicate the longevity of the garment to encourage people to buy clothes that lasted longer
We were just a small country, tackle the countries in the world who created the most pollution
ensure our drivers switched off their engines once stopped, if anything, this would also send out the correct message
East Devon has numerous rivers and streams, these could be harnessed to create green energy to run a local bus for instance
We must try to raise the bar in tackling climate change EDDC committee reports could have an environmental impact assessment
We need to be more ambitious or at least try to be with tougher targets. Set hard targets and start now. Planning have to set high standards and the NPPF allows for this.
RESOLVED:
that EDDC work with Devon County Council on a shared climate change programme, and signal its commitment to tackling climate change in areas where it could affect positive and meaningful change in its activities as well as those of our partners, communities and residents, and
that EDDC consider setting a more ambitious date for becoming carbon neutral and that a report be brought back to Cabinet highlighting how this could be achieved together with what actions would be required for an effective supporting implementation plan.
REASON:
To ensure that this Council states its position and contributes towards tackling climate change where it could make a positive impact. There was an opportunity to work in collaboration with Devon County Council and others to ensure they were coordinated and had the greatest impact.
Printed minutes 03rd-Apr-2019 17.30 Cabinet.pdf
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.
.
East Devon District Council will work with Devon County Council on a shared climate change reduction programme – but will aim to be more ambitious in terms of becoming carbon neutral.
Devon County Council declared a ‘climate emergency’ in February and agreed to forge ahead with a countywide partnership to ensure that Devon is carbon neutral by 2050.
At their cabinet meeting last week, the district council’s cabinet agreed to work with the county council to tackle climate change in areas where meaningful change could be made. But they also agreed to consider setting a more ambitious date for becoming carbon neutral and a further report would be brought back as to how this could be achieved.
John Golding, the Strategic Lead Housing, Health & Environment, outlined how the latest evidence indicates that radical action is required that has a genuine positive impact on climate change.
He said: “I propose indicating to Devon County Council that we support their concerns around climate change and want to work with them to combat the worst effects of global warming, sea rise and environmental pollution. Change will need to be dramatic and we will need to see different lifestyle and consumption patterns going forward and we need to play our part. We can influence locally and can work to reduce emissions.”
Leader of the council, Cllr Ian Thomas said that it was good the report had stimulated a lot of positive discussion rather than being nodded through.
He said: “We do to be more aggressive in what we want to do, and if I get the chance to, I will create a responsibility to drive change to deliver carbon neutrality significantly earlier. What we do needs to be more than something that is just stuck on a shelf and people forget where we put it. There needs to be specific initiatives that are in the remit we can deliver. There is no point debating things that we have no control over whatsoever, but we need to look at what we can do. It is nice to have the Devon County Council position as a backstop, but let us treat it as just that and try and do better.”
Councillors agreed with the principles of the report, but said that so much more needed to be done.
Cllr Mike Howe challenged the council to be much more ambitious. He said: “This is a great report but it needs to be more ambitious. We should take 25 years off, it and if we don’t hit it, then at least we have done our best. I would rather that than being conservative and having an estimate miles down the track. The date is wrong and need to be curtailed to a much tougher target.”
Cllr Roger Giles said he was ‘deeply disappointed’ that they were just following the county position. He said: “We are looking to take action to be carbon neutral by 2050 which is 31 years away. This is not good enough and we need to do more, and we need to grasp this and not play around the edges. We should be ahead of the county council rather than following them.”
He added that Devon has two coastlines which could be used to create energy from the wind and sun, but the government rather than supporting renewable energy instead supported fracking.
Cllr Steve Gazzard added: “We have contributed to the mess that we are in and I am prepared to say I was one of them, but I am now very conscious of recycling and trying to do my best.” He added that he was very impressed that schoolchildren making a stand on this with their recent protest, and called for them to be invited to a forum and to have a proper discussion with them about ideas to tackle climate change, saying: “We need to listen to what the next generation are saying.”
Cllr Brian Bailey questioned why council vehicles were running on diesel rather than LPG or electricity, but Mark Williams, the council’s chief executive, said that it was something they looked into for the refuge contract but either the technology didn’t exist or it was so prohibitively expensive the council couldn’t justify going with it.
The council’s portfolio holder for the environment, Cllr Tom Wright, said that they needed to lead by example and that he was constantly moaning about vehicle drivers who leave their engines running on the side of the road. He said: “We should also be responsible and that when drivers stop, they switch their engines off. It might have a small effect and will send the message that we do care and we should get the example.”
He also said that the council could do more in terms of generating solar power ‘if we didn’t have NIMBY’s who object whenever someone tries to put a solar farm in the AONB’.
Cllr Iain Chubb called for the power of water to be harnessed as towns as built on streams and rivers used to use waterwheels to grind corn, so that could be used to produce some green energy and Cllr Geoff Pook said that going forward, environmental impacts should be added to cabinet reports so that the costs or benefits to the environment where known, so that if something was cheaper but had a high environmental cost, the decision could be evaluated.
The cabinet unanimously agreed to work with Devon County Council on a shared climate change programme but to consider setting a more ambitious date for becoming carbon neutral than Devon’s 2050 target.
East Devon District Council aims to set more ambitious target than 2050 to become carbon neutral - Devon Live
And here are the minutes from that cabinet meeting:
EAST DEVON DISTRICT COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held at Council Chamber, Blackdown House, Honiton on 3 April 2019
193: Environmental sustainability and climate change emergency
The Strategic Lead Housing, Health & Environment presented the report which explored, highlighted and refreshed EDDC’s environmental commitments and contributions towards addressing climate change.
The council was well placed to influence, promote and lead local initiatives to protect and enhance the environment, which was consistent with the valuing the outstanding environment theme in the Council Plan. There was logic in all local authorities working together on this agenda and the report proposed that EDDC work with Devon County Council following their recent consideration of a climate change emergency motion. DCC have said that they would be working with strategic partners across the county to ensure the county was doing what it could to reduce carbon emissions as well as ensure Devon was carbon neutral by 2050.
Discussions included the following:
Global warming was the greatest threat to mankind, we should be bringing forward the date for Devon to be carbon neutral
Devon has 2 coastlines which could be used to create energy from the wind and sun
There was no Government support for renewable energy
Vehicles used by EDDC were still using diesel fuel and not LPG which was better for air quality Cabinet 3 April 2019
Younger people should be able to voice their concerns and listened to through proper discussions; there were the next generation to which climate change would have the most impact
Fabric manufacturing took up a lot of energy. Clothes labelling should indicate the longevity of the garment to encourage people to buy clothes that lasted longer
We were just a small country, tackle the countries in the world who created the most pollution
ensure our drivers switched off their engines once stopped, if anything, this would also send out the correct message
East Devon has numerous rivers and streams, these could be harnessed to create green energy to run a local bus for instance
We must try to raise the bar in tackling climate change EDDC committee reports could have an environmental impact assessment
We need to be more ambitious or at least try to be with tougher targets. Set hard targets and start now. Planning have to set high standards and the NPPF allows for this.
RESOLVED:
that EDDC work with Devon County Council on a shared climate change programme, and signal its commitment to tackling climate change in areas where it could affect positive and meaningful change in its activities as well as those of our partners, communities and residents, and
that EDDC consider setting a more ambitious date for becoming carbon neutral and that a report be brought back to Cabinet highlighting how this could be achieved together with what actions would be required for an effective supporting implementation plan.
REASON:
To ensure that this Council states its position and contributes towards tackling climate change where it could make a positive impact. There was an opportunity to work in collaboration with Devon County Council and others to ensure they were coordinated and had the greatest impact.
Printed minutes 03rd-Apr-2019 17.30 Cabinet.pdf
.
.
.
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