Great news … Somerset County Council has declared a ‘climate emergency’ in a bid to reduce emissions in the region and go carbon neutral by 2030.

We have to thank Tessa Munt, who is the County Councillor for Wells and Burnham-On-Sea’s former Lib Dem MP, for drawing up the motion to declare a Climate Emergency in Somerset and everyone who signed the petition in support. For full transcript of the motion check out – http://www.tessamunt.co.uk/call_to_declare_a_climate_emergency.

So now we have to hold the council to account – there are some big asks there – particularly motion 2 and the council do not have a moment to lose.

Motion:

1. Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;

2. Pledge to work proactively with others to make the county of Somerset carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions ;

3. Write to the Secretaries of State for Business Energy ; Industrial Strategy, Transport, Environment, Food ; Rural Affairs and Housing, Communities; Local Government calling for the creation, provision or devolution of powers and resources to make achievement of the 2030 target possible here in Somerset;

4. Become a signatory and active participant of the Local Government Association Climate Local Action Plan (2012)

5. Continue to work with partners and community action groups across the county and within the Heart of the South West LEP to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans;

6. Assist communities to become more resilient to the impacts of global warming, particularly to flooding and to drought

7. Report to Full Council before the end of 2019 with the actions the Council has, and will take, to address this emergency.

From Somerset County Gazette