Agenda item - White Paper Motion - Leeds Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan

White Paper Motion - Leeds Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan

Council welcomes the Leeds Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, but recognises that it does not go far enough in reducing CO₂ emissions and does not, as yet, commit the city to the actions that are needed.

Council therefore calls on the Executive Board:

1) To introduce a target of reducing CO₂ emissions by an annual rate of 10% per year for the city as a whole, i.e. an overall reduction of around 65% between 2010 and 2020 against a 2005 baseline.

2) To provide quarterly updates on performance against the target.

A BLACKBURN

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor A Blackburn, seconded by Councillor Parnham that

Council therefore calls on the Executive Board:

1) To introduce a target of reducing CO₂ emissions by an annual rate of 10% per year for the city as a whole, i.e. an overall reduction of around 65% between 2010 and 2020 against a 2005 baseline.

2) To provide quarterly updates on performance against the target.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Monaghan, seconded by Councillor Brett to

Delete all after ‘Council welcomes the Leeds Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan’ and replace with:-

‘Notes that climate change is man made and that the city’s climate change strategy has a general target of an 80% reduction in CO2 by 2050 in line with the Climate Change Act. Council recognises that it has a responsibility to help prevent climate change and that doing so will create local jobs, reduce local fuel poverty, improve local health and create local economic benefit. Council recognises that significant early local action via interim targets is essential for prevention to be most effective and to maximise the economic and social benefits.

Council welcomes the Executive Board’s recent decision to reduce carbon emissions from Leeds City Council’s own estate by at least 40% by 2020 and recognises the need for similar reductions across Leeds as a whole.

Council therefore resolves to:-

· Work with national government to reduce emissions in the Leeds area towards a goal of at least 40% by 2020.

· Produce an action plan to achieve these reductions, including:

· Supporting energy efficiency in Leeds homes and commercial buildings, micro renewables in Leeds homes and commercial buildings, and Leeds district CHP schemes

· Approve renewable energy schemes to decarbonise the grid, increased use of public transport and increased use of greener vehicles in Leeds

· Produce a scientifically modelled analysis of how much carbon each measure is expected to save

· Publish carbon budgets for both the council’s own operations and the wider city

· Publish this action and begin its implementation by autumn of the same year.

· Identify resources to enable the creation and implementation of the plan, so as not to detract from the excellent work being carried out under the current Climate Change Strategy, the “Vision for Action”

· Report annually to the Climate Change Partnership on progress towards the delivery of the 40% reduction target.

Council further recognises that truly decisive action to reduce carbon emissions requires significant additional resources and powers from the government. Council therefore supports the Get Serious About CO2 campaign for national government action to assist local authorities with additional funds and legal powers to make radical changes to act on climate change.’

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Harington, seconded by Councillor Ogilvie to

Delete all after ‘Council welcomes the Leeds Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan’ and replace with:-

‘However, it recognises that further action is needed to prevent dangerous climate change.

Council therefore calls on the Executive Board:

1. In addition to the existing commitment by the Council to reduce its own carbon emissions by 40% by 2020 to make a commitment to reduce emissions for the Leeds Metropolitan Area as a whole by 40% by 2020 against a 2005 baseline.

2. To publish a Leeds Area action plan by January 2011 based on a scientifically modelled analysis of how and when reductions will be achieved, including 3 year carbon budgets for both the council and the Leeds Area as a whole and to allocate sufficient additional resources to create and implement the Leeds Area Action Plan.

3. To report annually on the progress towards this target.

4. To press for national government action to support Local Authorities to achieve carbon reductions, including additional funding and legal powers to do this.’

A third amendment was moved by Councillor Shelbrooke, seconded by Councillor J L Carter to

Delete all after: “Council welcomes” and replace with:-

“the Executive Board’s recent decision to reduce carbon emissions from Leeds City Council’s own estate by at least 40% by 2020.

Council recognises the need for decisive action to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions throughout Leeds as a whole and therefore resolves to:-

· work with national government to further improve energy efficiency in Leeds, including Leeds homes and commercial buildings;

· increase the use of public transport through the delivery of the Next Generation Transport (NGT) scheme;

· encourage the use of greener methods of travel;

· encourage and where appropriate approve renewable energy schemes in Leeds;

· produce and publish an action plan that sets out how the Council can further reduce carbon emissions in the city;

· Report annually to the Climate Change Partnership on progress towards the delivery of the 40% reduction target.

Council further recognises that truly decisive action to reduce carbon emissions requires significant additional resources and powers from the government.’

Upon being put to the vote, the first amendment was carried, with the consent of Council the second amendment was withdrawn, the third amendment was declared lost and upon the first amendment being put as the substantive motion it was

RESOLVED – That this Council welcomes the Leeds Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan and notes that climate change is man made and that the city’s climate change strategy has a general target of an 80% reduction in CO2 by 2050 in line with the Climate Change Act. Council recognises that it has a responsibility to help prevent climate change and that doing so will create local jobs, reduce local fuel poverty, improve local health and create local economic benefit. Council recognises that significant early local action via interim targets is essential for prevention to be most effective and to maximise the economic and social benefits.