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Council signs up to biodiversity declaration
North Lanarkshire Council is supporting an international call for environmental action.
The local authority has signed up to the Edinburgh biodiversity declaration, which sets out calls from local and subnational governments around the world for “transformative change to halt biodiversity loss”.
Councillors unanimously agreed to join the dozens of international signatories following a motion put forward to a virtual meeting by SNP group leader Jordan Linden and party colleague William Goldie.
They supported the motion, noting that “local authorities have a key role to play in delivering biodiversity protection” – with the council now joining those emphasising the importance of local action during the next decade ahead of a major international conference on biodiversity taking place in China this October.
Councillor Linden told members: “The declaration sets out aspirations and commitments in delivering for nature over the coming decade, and there are calls for greater prominence to be given to action at the local level to halt biodiversity loss.
“Signing helps to enhance and further our existing biodiversity work and provide opportunities for knowledge exchange and sharing best practice.”
Councillor Goldie, the environment spokesman, added: “North Lanarkshire is an area rich in very diverse natural environments.
“In the past and currently, this council has been forward-thinking in its use of our greenspace and these areas will be vitally important in delivering for nature over the coming decade.
“Being a signatory would demonstrate North Lanarkshire’s commitment to biodiversity protection and acknowledges the role our local authorities and communities have in protecting our natural environment.”
The Edinburgh declaration notes signatories’ “deep concern about the significant implications that the loss of biodiversity and climate change has on our livelihood and communities”, and adds, “the impacts on our environment, infrastructure, economy, health and wellbeing, and our enjoyment of nature are already visible.”
North Lanarkshire also unanimously agreed a new requirement for all future committee reports to include a section outlining the carbon footprint of every project, to “focus attention on the council’s move to net zero”.
Councillor Goldie added: “It’s clear if we’re to tackle climate change that every decision we make should reflect consideration of the effect.
“It’s a relatively minor change and will allow us to demonstrate that we have the drive towards net zero running as a thread through every decision that we make.”
Seconding the motion, party colleague Junaid Ashraf said: “It’s incredibly important to our work as a local authority – having a specific record of the carbon impact of North Lanarkshire Council means we’re then able to address the local climate change emergency in a more holistic manner.
“As an authority we’ve already made great strides in becoming greener; North Lanarkshire, with a renewed focus, can become a trailblazer for climate change in Scotland and this is another step in the correct direction.”