Agenda item

Climate Emergency

Full Council notes:-

1.         The IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, published last November, describes the enormous harm that a 2°C rise is likely to cause compared to a 1.5°C rise but that limiting warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities.

2.         City Councils in the UK and around the world are responding by declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and committing resources to address this emergency.

3.         Exeter City Council has previously published a Climate Change strategy and action plan. This plan from 2008-2018 sought to address emissions related to homes, businesses, new developments, transport and waste but many of the targets set in this strategy were not met.

4.         There is a partnership between Exeter City Council and Exeter City Futures which seeks to bring together local government, the private sector and communities to jointly address carbon emissions, particularly related to transport and energy.

Full Council believes that:-

1.         Cities are uniquely placed to lead the world in reducing carbon emissions, as they are in many ways easier to decarbonise than rural areas – for example, because of their capacity for heat networks and mass transit;

2.         Strategies and action plans to date, delivered by Exeter City Council acting alone, or in partnership with other bodies have lacked the necessary ambition to adequately contribute to prevent an overshoot of the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C warming limit before 2050;

3.         There are extensive expertise and commitment across Exeter to tackle our climate emergency and working partnerships between local agencies, experts, communities, activists and residents can bring about profound change;

4.         Bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities, as well as improved well-being and quality of life for Exeter residents through for example lower fuel bills, reduced air pollution and healthier more active lifestyles.

Full Council agrees to:-

1.         Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;

2.         Pledge to make the city of Exeter carbon neutral by 2030 or sooner, taking into account both production and consumption emissions;

3.         Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible;

4.         Continue to work with partners across the city and region, including Devon County Council, to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans;

5.         Work with other cities regionally, nationally and internationally that have declared a similar climate emergency to determine and implement best practice methods to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 or sooner 5 ;

6.         Report to Full Council within six months with a climate emergency strategy, and clear action plan with budget.

7.         Review progress on the action plan annually through the Council’s scrutiny process.

Councillor Musgrave, seconded by Councillor Mitchell, moved a Motion in the following terms:-

Councillor Musgrave referred to the urgent need for the Council to act pointing out that 40 other authorities had already declared Climate Emergencies. Whilst the City Council had a good record in some areas of green action he believed that not enough was being done and that a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030 was paramount.

Councillor Bialyk moved and Councillor Sutton seconded, the following amendment 

Delete in line 2 of Full Council notes “by declaring a Climate Emergency”

Delete all paragraphs 1 to 4 in "Full Council believes that"

Delete all paragraphs 1 to 7 in "Full Council agrees to"

Insert the following:-

Full Council recognises:-

1          The scale and urgency of the global challenge from climate change following the IPPC report published in October 2018. We accept that Cities, like Exeter, have a duty to act quickly, collectively and concertedly to avoid the worst of the predicted outcomes.

2.         Exeter has been playing a role in rising to the critical climate change challenge for some time. Exeter City Council is strongly committed to renewable energy and to playing our part in pushing the boundaries of what local authorities can do to deliver a low carbon future. Over the past decade we have pioneered Passivhaus standards in the UK, deployed renewable generation across our public sites and delivered large-scale district heating networks.  On our own estate we have reduced energy consumption by 37% and are on track to deliver an energy-neutral council by 2022.

3.         The choices we now make about the growth of Exeter are incredibly important. Decisions we make today will shape the way we live and our environmental impact for decades to come. Existing energy consumption costs our residents and businesses over £900m each year which is a significant cost to many families and a particular burden to those in fuel poverty. The Council wants to ensure that we minimise our environmental impact while creating a sustainable basis for future development.

4.         Our city already has a world-class reputation in climate and environmental research. The Met Office and the University of Exeter inform the international response to climate change every day. Within our own Local Industrial Strategy we set out the ambition to be the global leader for addressing the challenges of climate change and urbanisation, and the world-leading location for applied environmental science, health and data analytics. 

5.         By declaring commitment to make Exeter Carbon-Neutral by 2030, our City can make a vital contribution to our planet and all its people. Such an ambition is aligned to our vision and could be transformative for our city.

6.         However, whilst it is essential to position Exeter as an integral part of the solution in fighting climate change, the lack of government support for this agenda and their back-tracking on climate change limits what can be achieved. The roadmap to energy independence, published in 2017, outlines what can be achieved in our region, but without alignment of spending and policy environments we will not be able to affect the level of change required. Only with a coordinated approach and action at the local, regional, national and global levels, can we truly begin to address the challenge of carbon emissions and energy use within Cities.

7.         We must collaborate across the region to find ways to address the challenges of climate change; through decisive implementation of new policies and by embracing innovations in positive-energy buildings, smart grids, low-emission vehicles, battery technology and many others. Decisions that every resident, business and other organisation make can contribute towards this ambition.

8.         Through the Low Carbon Task Force and Exeter City Futures we are working collaboratively with partners such as Devon County Council, Exeter College, the University of Exeter, Global City Futures and the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust to build programmes of innovation and investment focussed on outcomes that link closely to the UN sustainable development goals; focusing on better homes, clean air, renewable energy and improved transport systems.

9.         Through Exeter City Futures, our Programme Director Liz O’Driscoll is building strong and supportive networks with other Cities such as Cambridge, Oxford, Bristol, Peterborough; regularly attending sessions with their smart city programme leads to share learning and best-practice on our respective journeys towards better cities.

10.      This Council believes that, with the right partnerships in place, Exeter has the opportunity to show leadership among cities by adopting the game-changing ambition of becoming a carbon neutral city by 2030.

Councillor Bialyk referred to the many Council energy saving initiatives in recent years and that Exeter was on track to deliver an energy-neutral council by 2022.  Exeter was already one of the leading authorities in the country in reducing CO2 emissions and the introduction of electric vehicles had dramatically reduced Exeter City Council’s vehicle fleet carbon footprint. Over the past decade the Council has pioneered passivhaus standards in the UK for new social housing and was building the UK’s first passivhaus Leisure Centre, as well as the UK’s first passivhaus Care Home. It was helping to set up district heating networks at Skypark and Monkerton.

In 2016, the Council had won the Local Government Chronicle’s Environment Award in recognition of the delivery of a programme of energy efficiency and solar projects. It had recently adopted the Air Quality Action Plan 2019-2024, highlighting measures to further improve air quality which aligned with the Council’s key strategic priorities of tackling congestion and accessibility, promoting active and healthy lifestyles and building great neighbourhoods. The city was also working with Exeter City Futures in collaboration with Devon County Council, Exeter College, the University of Exeter, Global City Futures and the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust to build programmes of innovation and investment focussed on creating better homes, cleaner air, renewable energy and improved transport systems.

Councillor Musgrave raised a point of order, in that he felt that the amendment contravened Standing Order 10(6) (e) as, in his opinion, it negated the original motion. On advice from the Monitoring Officer, the Deputy Lord Mayor overruled this point of order.

The amendment was voted on and carried. The substantive motion was voted on and carried.