Proposed by Councillor Simmons

Green member motion

Council notes:

a)    the recent 2018 IPCC report which states that we have just 12 years to act on climate change if global temperature rises are to be kept within the recommended 1.5 degreesC.

b)    that the Council’s carbon emissions have reduced by approximately 10% over the last five years.

c)     last year, the Council’s greenhouse gas carbon equivalent emissions (tCO2e) reduced by 4.3%,  largely due to the decarbonisation of the national electricity grid and helped by an unusually warm year  - not due to any actions by the Council.

d)    The Council’s underlying energy consumption actually went UP slightly - a 2.1% increase in electricity, a 0.8% increase in gas and a 5.4% increase in carbon from vehicle fuel. 

Council notes therefore that:

1.     It is failing to meet its own 5% annual greenhouse gas reduction target 

2.     If reductions continue at a similar rate, the Council will also fail to meet its own medium (2022) and longer term carbon reduction targets and aspirations.

In light of the above, the Council therefore agrees to resource an additional Cross-Party Scrutiny Group to urgently review and make recommendations on revisions to the Council’s 2017-2022 Carbon Management Plan

* - Source for Council figures: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report 2017-18 (Aug 2018) 

This was not taken because the time for debating motions had elapsed.