In accordance with the Notice of Motion received under Section 4.20 of
the Constitution, Councillor Catrin Wager will propose as follows:-
The Motion:
The
evidence is now conclusive that climate change is happening. Climate change is linked to extreme weather
events, rising sea levels, drought and flooding. The consequences of global temperature rising
above 1.5°c are so severe
that preventing this from happening must be a key priority. The findings of the IPCC 1.5C study in
October state that humanity has 12 years to take decisive action on climate
change. All governments (local, regional
and national) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of Climate Change. The Council has obligations, under the
“Wellbeing of Future Generations Act” to consider the impact of any decision it
takes on generations to come. The
Council also has an obligation to protect the public.
Council
further notes that:
The impact
of climate change and extreme weather events are already being felt within the
county. 23,244 Gwynedd residents live
within a flood risk area. Over the next
century, sea levels are expected to rise by 1.1m. Flooding already costs the Welsh economy c.
£200 million per year. Gwynedd’s
landscape presents many opportunities for energy generation, biodiversity
regeneration and runoff flood mitigation.
This
Council therefore resolves to:
Do our
utmost to ensure that the county remains a vibrant, viable and sustainable home
for our children and their children for generations to come. We will do this by:
·
Declaring
a Climate emergency
·
Commit
to taking decisive action to reduce carbon emissions and strive for a
zero-carbon future.
·
Look
for innovative means to achieve zero carbon targets
·
Report
back within 6 months on positive steps the Council have taken to reduce carbon
emissions.
Minutes:
(3) The
following notice of motion was submitted by Councillor Catrin Wager, in
accordance with Section 4.20 of the Constitution, and it was seconded:
"The evidence is now
conclusive that climate change is happening. Climate change is linked to
extreme weather events, rising sea levels, drought and flooding. The
consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°c are so severe that
preventing this from happening must be a key priority. The findings of the IPCC
1.5C study in October state that humanity has 12 years to take decisive action
on climate change. All governments (local, regional and national) have a duty
to limit the negative impacts of Climate Change. The Council has obligations, under the
“Wellbeing of Future Generations Act” to consider the impact of any decision it
takes on generations to come. The
Council also has an obligation to protect the public.
This Council further notes that:
·
The impact of climate change and extreme weather events are already
being felt within the county.
·
23,244 Gwynedd residents live within a flood risk area.
·
Over the next century, sea levels are expected to rise by 1.1m.
·
Flooding already costs the Welsh economy approximately £200 million per
year.
·
Gwynedd’s landscape presents many opportunities for energy generation,
biodiversity regeneration and runoff flood mitigation.
The Council therefore resolves to:
Do our utmost to ensure that the county remains a vibrant, viable
and sustainable home for our children and their children for generations to
come. We do this by means of:
·
Declare
a Climate Emergency.
·
Commit
to taking decisive action to reduce carbon emissions and strive for a
zero-carbon future.
·
Look
for innovative means to achieve zero carbon targets.
·
Report back within 6 months on positive steps the Council has taken to
reduce carbon emissions.
It was noted that children and students were fully awake to the
situation, and it was emphasised that elected members, as political leaders,
should also play their part. On this
basis, it was proposed and seconded to add the following wording to the
original motion:
"Call on
Welsh Government and Westminster Government to provide the requisite powers and
resources to achieve the target of a carbon-free Gwynedd by 2030."
The proposer of
the original proposal agreed to amend the proposal on these grounds with the
Council’s consent.
Members expressed their enthusiastic support for the amended motion, and
it was noted:
·
That carbon emissions were
impacting biodiversity and the eco-system also, and that plastics were making
their way through the food chain.
Attention was drawn to a second environmental workshop that was to be
held at Plas Tan y Bwlch on 17 May.
·
Even if we take firm steps
with regard to climate change within 12 years, we would still see the climate
changing for years beyond this, and a 10 year old child today would experience
something that none of us would ever experience.
·
That climate change was the
greatest threat to the future of the human race, and we had to play our part,
as a local authority, to lead the way and act to reduce the impact on the
climate and the environment, and ensure a future for our children and our
children's children.
·
That seeing the proposal
delivering practical plans, e.g. plans to reduce the use of cars, etc. was
desirable.
·
That there was a need to
become carbon-negative, by planting more trees, etc.
The Leader noted
that the Council had been at the forefront and effective in the field of
reducing carbon for some years now, and that it had a target to deliver a 40%
reduction in carbon by 2021, thus saving £3.3m for the Council. He also suggested that it could be possible
to look into including a section under the Environment Department in the
Council Plan regarding the climate change matter.
RESOLVED
the evidence is now conclusive
that climate change is happening. Climate change is linked to extreme weather
events, rising sea levels, drought and flooding. The consequences of global
temperature rising above 1.5°c are so severe that preventing this from
happening must be a key priority. The findings of the IPCC 1.5C study in
October state that humanity has 12 years to take decisive action on climate
change. All governments (local, regional and national) have a duty to limit the
negative impacts of Climate Change. The Council has obligations, under the
“Wellbeing of Future Generations Act” to consider the impact of any decision it
takes on generations to come. The Council
also has an obligation to protect the public.
This Council further notes that:
·
The impact of climate change and extreme weather events are already
being felt within the county.
·
23,244 Gwynedd residents live within a flood risk area.
·
Over the next century, sea levels are expected to rise by 1.1m.
·
Flooding already costs the Welsh economy approximately £200 million per
year.
·
Gwynedd’s landscape presents many opportunities for energy generation,
biodiversity regeneration and runoff flood mitigation.
The Council therefore resolves to:
Do our utmost to ensure that the county remains a vibrant, viable
and sustainable home for our children and their children for generations to
come. We do this by means of:
·
Declare
a Climate Emergency.
·
Commit
to taking decisive action to reduce carbon emissions and strive for a
zero-carbon future.
·
Look
for innovative means to achieve zero carbon targets.
·
Report back within 6 months on positive steps the Council has taken to
reduce carbon emissions.
·
Call on Welsh Government and the
Westminster Government to provide the requisite powers and resources to achieve
the target of a carbon-free Gwynedd by 2030.