Published on Tuesday 16 July 2019
A motion asking BCP Council to formally declare a ‘climate emergency’ was agreed tonight, Tuesday 16 July. The motion was proposed by Cllr Simon Bull and seconded by Cllr Chris Rigby.
The motion declares that climate change is a serious risk to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’s future.
In passing the motion the Council pledged to make BCP Council and its operations carbon neutral by 2030, and to work with the wider community to look at how early the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole region can be made carbon neutral, ahead of the UK target of 2050. Members also called on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to help make the 2030 target possible.
As part of the motion, Members agreed that BCP Council should work with governments worldwide to determine and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5°C.
Councillor Felicity Rice, Cabinet Member responsible for Climate Change & Environment, said, "Tackling climate change is an unprecedented global challenge and one which we know that many residents care passionately about.
"By declaring this climate emergency for BCP Council we are making a formal commitment to doing all we can to achieve the target of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. We are not simply declaring a climate emergency – we are agreeing to the production of a ten year plan with quantifiable targets and actions required to achieve them. This is a hugely ambitious target and a challenge that cannot be underestimated, but we must look now at how we go about reversing decades of global environmental decline as a result of human activity. That is the commitment we have made tonight.
"We believe that by working together with businesses and the community, including establishing a citizen assembly, we can collectively bring about change that will ensures Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole plays a meaningful role in tackling climate change."
A full report outlining the actions the Council will take to address this emergency from 2020 – 2030 including clear quantifiable milestones will be submitted to Full Council in December 2019.