Taunton Transition Town proposed four pledges for the new West Somerset and Taunton Council

In the context of the May 2019 West Somerset Taunton elections Taunton Transition Town calls on the political parties, candidates and councillors to:

1. Declare a climate emergency and pledge to take action by making West Somerset and Taunton carbon neutral by 2030 and to develop a full action plan to implement the pledge (including monitoring) by 2020.

Why?  This is in the wake of the recent IPCC report https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/spelling out the risks of a temperature rise of more than 1.5C and the lead taken by a number of other UK local authorities. For Bristol example see http://bit.ly/climem

2. Prioritise walking, cycling (adopting Taunton Area Cycling Campaign’s ‘Turn the network blue’ objectives) , local bus services and park and ride in future funding bidsand resource allocation, working with relevant partners.

Why? Approximately £40m has been spent/is being spent on new road schemes and it is time to refocus for social equity, environmental and economic reasons. In January 2019, NICE published stated ‘ New and upgraded roads should prioritise pedestrians, cyclists and public transport over motorised vehicles’ see http://bit.ly/NICEcycle

3. Uphold their fiduciary duty by quantifying, disclosing and reviewing the pension fund’s investments in carbon intensive industries, engaging in a dialogue with fund members and managers on responsible investment and committing to phasing out fossil fuel investments over an appropriate timescale.

Why? We believe the council has a responsibility to act on climate change and has, at this moment, an opportunity to show leadership on climate action, responsible investment and the management of climate risk through addressing the practices of the council pension fund.

4. Support the call for a national ban on fracking and campaign for a Frack Free Somerset.

Why? In 2015 the government granted 159 licences for hydraulic drilling for oil and gas (fracking). Included in these licences is Bridgwater Bay from Kilve to Clevedon. Stretching inland they take in the Somerset Levels, Quantock and Mendip Hills. All areas of outstanding natural beauty.(AONB). We should not be extracting more fossil fuels from the ground when their use threatens not only our local environment but climate change on a global scale. The government has allowed fracking for oil and gas to become part of the national energy strategy. This despite documented evidence that the recoverable amount will be minimal and non-profitable. They have also passed legislation that gives the powers to override local governance and rule in favour of the fossil fuel industry.