Rugby Borough Council has declared a climate emergency and will adopt an action plan to address the council’s impact on climate change within six months.
Cllr. Howard Roberts, the portfolio holder for environment and public realm tabled a friendly amendment during the meeting, this was supported by the Opposition Group Leader. Cllr. Roberts said, "The scientific community overwhelmingly supports the view that human activity is negatively affecting the climate we all depend upon for our very survival." Cllr. Roberts went on to mention Margaret Thatcher voicing her alarm over global warming in 1988 and the groundbreaking documentary The Inconvenient truth. He concluded, "I didn’t become a councillor to just wave a party flag, I became a councillor to make a difference and improve the lives of local residents. That’s why our friendly amendment centres around a cross party working group with all political parties represented and working positively to create the best solution to the problems we face."
After various speeches, the Council Leader Seb Lowe expresses his concerns over climate change and stated that the Council would set up a cross-party working group. Cllr Lowe, "This amendment has been moved because we in the Conservative Group feel that it is vital that an ambitious target be set on this issue, and that firm, concrete actions to determine how we intend to achieve this target are set. I hope that councillors of all parties will join me in supporting this friendly amendment, which will enable us to bring about real and lasting change on this vitally important issue."
The friendly amendment was support by both opposition parties.
The Councils full press release
More information on the working group and carbon neutrality will be published at www.rugby.gov.uk/carbonneutral.
Photo: Earth "The council has already made steps towards carbon neutrality, but by declaring a climate emergency we have acknowledged the significance of the issue." Cllr. Seb Lowe, Conservative Leader of Rugby Borough Council.
