CM.38/21
It was
moved by Cllr L Daniel and seconded by Cllr L Wood:
“This Council has formally
recognised the climate and biodiversity emergency (May 2019), has
signed The Devon Climate Declaration (July 2019) and has a Climate
Change and Biodiversity Strategy WDBC
Climate Strategy.
This Council is committed to actions to
change behaviour to address the causes of this situation and
mitigate the impacts.
In line with the above, this Council
supports the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill proposed by a
coalition of scientists, academics and lawyers with the aim of
bringing the UK’s climate policy into one with evolving
scientific evidence. This proposed Bill is also supported by
110 cross-party members of parliament. Nationally we need a
strong legislative framework that embeds the Government’s
targets in law, enabling us as supportive players, to plan and
develop our future trajectories, to fit in with those
targets.
Council therefore resolves to:
i.
Support the Climate and Ecological
Emergency Bill
ii.
Inform the local media of their
decision.
iii. Write to local MPs, asking them to support
the Bill.
iv. Write to the CEE Bill
Alliance,
the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, expressing its support
(campaign@ceebill.uk).”
In her introduction, Cllr Daniel made
particular reference to the petition that had been submitted by the
CEE Bill Alliance and the contents of the supporting statement
(Minute CM.37/21 above refers). As the
Bill was making its way through Parliamentary processes, Cllr
Daniel hoped that the Council would provide its full backing by
virtue of supporting her Motion on Notice.
During the ensuing debate, the following
points were raised:
(a)
In recognition of the Emergency declared
by the Borough Council in May 2019, a number of Members reiterated
their ongoing commitment to the Climate Change and Biodiversity
agenda;
(b)
Some concerns were highlighted over
aspects of the CEE Bill that included:
-
the proposed establishment of an
unaccountable Citizens’ Assembly; and
-
the potential for political confusion in
light of the Government’s Environment Bill;
(c)
An amendment was PROPOSED
and SECONDED that read as follows:
“This Council has formally recognised the
climate and biodiversity emergency (May 2019), has signed The Devon
Climate Declaration (July 2019) and has a Climate Change and
Biodiversity Strategy
WDBC Climate
Strategy.
This Council is committed to actions to change
behaviour to address the causes of this situation and mitigate the
impacts.
In line with the above, this Council supports the
need for a strong legislative framework that embeds the
Government’s targets in law, enabling us as supportive
players, to plan and develop our future trajectories, to fit in
with those targets.
Council therefore resolves to:
i.
Support the Government’s Environment
Bill
ii. Inform the local media of their
decision.
iii. Write to local MPs, asking them to
support the Bill.
iv. Continue to support Devon County
Council through the Devon Climate Emergency
Partnership.”
In
support of the amendment, Members felt that it recognised the steps
that had already been undertaken by both ...
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