Island leaders declare a climate emergency
‘WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HAVE A MORAL DUTY TO ACT’
ANGLESEY has become the latest council to formally declare a climate emergency, backing plans to achieve a carbon neutral public sector by 2030.
Meeting virtually last Tuesday, the full council unanimously backed a proposal by the leader of the Labour group.
Cllr John Arwel Roberts had urged members to follow the Welsh Government’s lead, which declared such an emergency last year while committing to helping other sections of the nation’s economy move away from fossil fuels. Other local authorities, including Gwynedd and Conwy have also previously made such declarations, committing to taking decisive action to reduce carbon emissions and striving for a zero-carbon future while seeking innovative means to achieve zero carbon targets.
Addressing fellow members, Cllr Roberts said: “We must recognise that this council cannot continue with business as usual, and prepare an action plan which can be monitored and implemented.
“We need to stop investing in fossil fuels, use our
local planning policies to accelerate the delivery of net zero carbon developments and communities.
“We are in a position to make a difference for the sake of future generations, and we have a moral duty to act”.
Earlier this year saw the council leader had committed to preparing a full carbon footprint masterplan to coincide with such a declaration.
But with such work having been thrown off kilter due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Cllr Llinos Medi agreed that a formal and public declaration is made while work continues in the background, seconding Cllr Roberts’ proposal.
The Labour group leader went on to say: “Whilst all our intentions have quite rightly been focused on Covid over recent months, there’s no doubt that climate change will be a far greater crisis in the future.
“There’s more Co2 in the atmosphere now than at any time in our history, a recent met office report showed that Britain’s ten hottest years have occurred since 2002.
“If Co2 is not controlled by 2070 the temperature will rise by several more degrees, affecting sea levels, food supplies, human health and biodiversity.
“We need to make sure we have a good, broad and effective plan to achieve this and that properly maintained and implemented.”
Speaking after the meeting, a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion welcomed the authority’s decision.
Dr Martin Skov, a marine biologist and ecologist who lives in Beaumaris said: “It’s great news that this received unanimous backing, a good first step, but what matters now is what they actually do.
“We want to see them use their planning powers to prevent any new polluting developments (fossil fuel generation, road building etc) and facilitate a rapid transition to a low carbon future starting now.
“The waters off Anglesey are amongst the best in Europe for tidal power and we are already leading the way with offshore wind.
“These and other renewable energy technologies should be enabled and supported (via planning and funding) along with infrastructure for sustainable farming, low carbon public transport and support for retrofitting and building low and zero carbon homes.”
This latest move follows Anglesey last year becoming the first county in the UK to be awarded ‘plastic free’ community status by marine conservation group, Surfers Against Sewage.
The motion, also supported by full council, saw the island implement a plan to cut plastic use, including establishing a community-led group to spread the message.