Agenda item

(to consider the following notices of motion submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9.1)

·         Climate Change

·         Energy Price Comparison Service

Councillor Catherine Donovan moved the following motion:

Council notes:

That the impacts of climate breakdown are already causing serious damage around the world.

That the ‘Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C’, published by the

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in October 2018, (a) describes the enormous harm that a 2°C average rise in global temperatures is likely to cause compared with a 1.5°C rise, and (b) confirms that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society and the private sector.

That all levels of government (national, regional and local) have a duty to act, and that as a proactive local authority this Council recognises that we should not wait for national government to change its policies to act.

That strong policies to cut emissions also have associated health, wellbeing and economic benefits.

Council therefore commits to:

The declaration of a ‘Climate Emergency’ that requires urgent action.

Make the Council’s activities carbon neutral by 2030.

Achieve 100% clean energy across the Council’s full range of functions by 2030.

Ensure that all strategic decisions, budgets and approaches to planning decisions are in line with a shift to zero carbon by 2030.

Support and work with all other relevant agencies towards making the entire area carbon neutral within the same timescale.

Ensure that political and chief officers embed this work in all areas and take

responsibility for reducing, as rapidly as possible, the carbon emissions resulting from the Council’s activities, ensuring that any recommendations are fully costed.

Work with, influence and inspire partners across the borough to help deliver this goal through all relevant strategies, plans and shared resources by developing a series of meetings, events and partner workshops.

Request that the Council and partners take steps to proactively include young people in the process, ensuring that they have a voice in shaping the future.

Call on the UK Government to provide the powers, resources and help with funding to make this possible, and ask local MPs to do likewise.

Councillor Jonathan Wallace moved the following amendment:

Add the following to the end of the motion:

We call on the Council to reach out to the voluntary sector in Gateshead to explore ways to help residents to reduce their environmental impact.

We call on the Council to hold an advisory group where members can put forward ideas regarding how residents can reduce their environmental impact. Due to the urgency of this issue, the advisory group shall be held before summer recess 2019.

On the amendment being put, it was defeated.

The original motion was put as the substantive motion and duly carried.

COUNCIL RESOLVED –

Council notes:

That the impacts of climate breakdown are already causing serious damage around the world.

That the ‘Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C’, published by the

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in October 2018, (a) describes the enormous harm that a 2°C average rise in global temperatures is likely to cause compared with a 1.5°C rise, and (b) confirms that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society and the private sector.

That all levels of government (national, regional and local) have a duty to act, and that as a proactive local authority this Council recognises that we should not wait for national government to change its policies to act.

That strong policies to cut emissions also have associated health, wellbeing and economic benefits.

Council therefore commits to:

The declaration of a ‘Climate Emergency’ that requires urgent action.

Make the Council’s activities carbon neutral by 2030.

Achieve 100% clean energy across the Council’s full range of functions by 2030.

Ensure that all strategic decisions, budgets and approaches to planning decisions are in line with a shift to zero carbon by 2030.

Support and work with all other relevant agencies towards making the entire area carbon neutral within the same timescale.

Ensure that political and chief officers embed this work in all areas and take

responsibility for reducing, as rapidly as possible, the carbon emissions resulting from the Council’s activities, ensuring that any recommendations are fully costed.

Work with, influence and inspire partners across the borough to help deliver this goal through all relevant strategies, plans and shared resources by developing a series of meetings, events and partner workshops.

Request that the Council and partners take steps to proactively include young people in the process, ensuring that they have a voice in shaping the future.

Call on the UK Government to provide the powers, resources and help with funding to make this possible, and ask local MPs to do likewise.