Agenda item

This Council notes that many Leeds residents are demanding action on climate change as demonstrated through actions such as the recent ‘Youth Strike.’

 

Council accepts that in order to limit the effects of global warming it is necessary for the world population to reduce its annual carbon emissions from the current 6.5 tonnes per person to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible.

 

Council recognises that individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs leadership at international, national and local level. Council is aware that current plans and actions are not enough. The world is on track to overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050.

 

All governments nationally and locally have a duty to limit the negative impacts of global warming. Local councils should not wait for their national governments to change their policies. It is important for the residents of Leeds and the UK that cities commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible.

 

Council notes through collaboration with the Leeds Climate Commission how it is now one of the leading local authorities in the country in this area. This is underlined by the unprecedented scale of investment prioritised by this Council towards carbon reduction measures. This includes our innovative Leeds PIPES district heating scheme, our investment to improve the energy performance of council housing and in area based regeneration schemes to support both private and council housing improvements, and our investment to become the leading authority in the country for changing our fleet to Electric Vehicles.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

1. Declare a 'Climate Emergency'.

2. Sign up to a science based carbon reduction target that is consistent with achieving the Paris Agreement of no more than 1.5°C global temperature increase.

3. Work to make Leeds Carbon neutral by 2030 and call on central government to provide the funding and powers to make this possible.

4. Work with other organisations and governments within the UK and internationally to determine and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5°C.

5. Bring a report to April Executive Board setting out how we can work with the Leeds Climate Commission to run a conversation with residents, Trade Unions, public sector organisations, businesses and the third sector on developing a plan with the actions and milestones required to reach this target, and report the outcome to Executive Board by the end of 2019.

It was moved by Councillor Blake, seconded by Councillor Bentley that this Council notes that many Leeds residents are demanding action on climate change as demonstrated through actions such as the recent ‘Youth Strike.’

 

Council accepts that in order to limit the effects of global warming it is necessary for the world population to reduce its annual carbon emissions from the current 6.5 tonnes per person to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible.

 

Council recognises that individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs leadership at international, national and local level. Council is aware that current plans and actions are not enough. The world is on track to overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050.

All governments nationally and locally have a duty to limit the negative impacts of global warming. Local councils should not wait for their national governments to change their policies. It is important for the residents of Leeds and the UK that cities commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible.

 

Council notes through collaboration with the Leeds Climate Commission how it is now one of the leading local authorities in the country in this area.  This is underlined by the unprecedented scale of investment prioritised by this Council towards carbon reduction measures. This includes our innovative Leeds PIPES district heating scheme, our investment to improve the energy performance of council housing and in area based regeneration schemes to support both private and council housing improvements, and our investment to become the leading authority in the country for changing our fleet to Electric Vehicles. 

 

Council therefore resolves to:

1. Declare a 'Climate Emergency'.

2. Sign up to a science based carbon reduction target that is consistent with achieving the Paris Agreement of no more than 1.5’C global temperature increase.

3. Work to make Leeds Carbon neutral by 2030 and call on central government to provide the funding and powers to make this possible.

4. Work with other organisations and governments within the UK and internationally to determine and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5°C.

 5. Bring a report to April Executive Board setting out how we can work with the Leeds Climate Commission to run a conversation with residents, Trade Unions, public sector organisations, businesses and the third sector on developing a plan with the actions and milestones required to reach this target, and report the outcome to Executive Board by the end of 2019.

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor D Blackburn, seconded by Councillor A Blackburn

 

Replace the words “Work to make” at the start of resolution 3 and replace them with “Set interim targets and work towards making”.

 

Insert “2019” after the word “April” in resolution 5 and also delete “, and report the outcome to Executive Board by the end of 2019” from the end of that resolution.

 

Append the following resolutions:

  “6. Present an interim draft action plan to the Executive before the end of 2019.

  7. Agree the final plan by October 2020 for how Leeds will reach carbon neutrality by 2030.

  8. All reports to Council should within the shortest time practicable, but at the latest by
  July 2019, report on the implications of any decisions on climate change.

  9. Bring a report to each Council Meeting outlining progress towards addressing the
  Action Plan as a standard item of business.”

 

 

The resolutions of the motion would then read as follows:

 

“Council therefore resolves to:

1.  Declare a 'Climate Emergency'.

2.  Sign up to a science based carbon reduction target that is consistent with achieving the Paris Agreement of no more than 1.5’C global temperature increase.

3.  Set interim targets and work towards making Leeds Carbon neutral by 2030 and call on central government to provide the funding and powers to make this possible.

4.  Work with other organisations and governments within the UK and internationally to determine and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5°C. 

5.  Bring a report to April 2019 Executive Board setting out how we can work with the Leeds Climate Commission to run a conversation with residents, Trade Unions, public sector organisations, businesses and the third sector on developing a plan with the actions and milestones required to reach this target.

6.  Present an interim draft action plan to the Executive before the end of 2019.

7.  Agree the final plan by October 2020 for how Leeds will reach carbon neutrality by 2030.

8.  All reports to Council should within the shortest time practicable, but at the latest by July 2019, report on the implications of any decisions on climate change.

9.  Bring a report to each Council Meeting outlining progress towards addressing the
Action Plan as a standard item of business.”

 

 

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Buckley, seconded by Councillor Lamb

 

Delete all after ‘This Council notes’ and replace with:

 

‘that global temperatures have increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO₂ levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm). This far exceeds the 350 ppm deemed to be a safe level.

 

Council accepts that in order to limit the effects of global warming it is necessary for the world population to reduce its annual carbon emissions from the current 6.5 tonnes per person to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible

 

Council recognises that individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs leadership at international, national and local level.

 

Leeds City Council is already taking the lead in a number of areas. For example its commitment to energy from waste, district heating, solar panels on council buildings and renewing its fleet with electric vehicles are all making a difference. The Government’s direction to introduce a Clean Air Zone in Leeds has been taken on enthusiastically and sets an example to other authorities. 

 

Council is aware that our current plans and actions are not enough. The world is on track to overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050.

 

The 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on global warming, describes the enormous harm that a 2°C rise is likely to cause compared to a 1.5°C rise, and stated that limiting global warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and local authorities, the private sector, and local communities.

 

Council believes that all governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of global warming. Local governments that recognise this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies. It is important for the residents of Leeds and the UK that cities commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

·  Declare a ‘Climate and Environmental Emergency’

·  Sign up to a science based carbon reduction target that is consistent with achieving the Paris Agreement of no more than 1.5°C global temperature increase

·  Set interim targets and work towards making Leeds Carbon neutral by 2030 and call on central government to provide the funding and powers to make this possible

·  Agree the final plan by October 2020 for how Leeds will reach carbon neutrality by 2030

·  Work with other organisations and governments within the UK and internationally to determine and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5°C

·  Instruct the Chief Executive to bring an urgent report to the next Executive Board meeting setting out milestones and immediate actions the Council should take. This will be followed by an interim draft action plan to go to the Executive before the end of 2019

·  Continue to work with the Leeds Climate Commission and other partners across the city and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans

·  Request that the Leader of Council take on portfolio responsibility for this issue to ensure appropriate authority and accountability is assigned to this important issue

·  Bring a report to Council that outlines progress towards establishing and addressing the action plan as a standing item of business until the issue has been addressed, commencing in July 2019

·  Request that the Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board commence an inquiry on this agenda to ensure that the Council is taking all appropriate action to address climate change.

 

 The amendments in the name of Councillor D Blackburn and Councillor Buckley were declared lost and upon being put to the vote it was

 

RESOLVED – That this Council notes that many Leeds residents are demanding action on climate change as demonstrated through actions such as the recent ‘Youth Strike.’

 

Council accepts that in order to limit the effects of global warming it is necessary for the world population to reduce its annual carbon emissions from the current 6.5 tonnes per person to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible.

 

Council recognises that individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs leadership at international, national and local level. Council is aware that current plans and actions are not enough. The world is on track to overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050.

All governments nationally and locally have a duty to limit the negative impacts of global warming. Local councils should not wait for their national governments to change their policies. It is important for the residents of Leeds and the UK that cities commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible.

 

Council notes through collaboration with the Leeds Climate Commission how it is now one of the leading local authorities in the country in this area.  This is underlined by the unprecedented scale of investment prioritised by this Council towards carbon reduction measures. This includes our innovative Leeds PIPES district heating scheme, our investment to improve the energy performance of council housing and in area based regeneration schemes to support both private and council housing improvements, and our investment to become the leading authority in the country for changing our fleet to Electric Vehicles. 

 

Council therefore resolves to:

1. Declare a 'Climate Emergency'.

2. Sign up to a science based carbon reduction target that is consistent with achieving the Paris Agreement of no more than 1.5’C global temperature increase.

3. Work to make Leeds Carbon neutral by 2030 and call on central government to provide the funding and powers to make this possible.

4. Work with other organisations and governments within the UK and internationally to determine and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5°C.

 5. Bring a report to April Executive Board setting out how we can work with the Leeds Climate Commission to run a conversation with residents, Trade Unions, public sector organisations, businesses and the third sector on developing a plan with the actions and milestones required to reach this target, and report the outcome to Executive Board by the end of 2019.

 

On the requisition of Councillor Dowson and Councillor James Lewis the voting on Councillor Blake’s motion was recorded as follows:

 

YES – 75

 

Akhtar, Almas, Arif, Bentley, Bithell, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Blake, Brooks, Bruce, Campbell, Carlill, Charlwood, Coupar, Dawson, Dobson, Downes, Dowson,  Drinkwater, Dye, Elliott, Field, Gabriel, Garner, Garthwaite, M Gibson, J Gibson, Goddard, Golton, P Grahame, R Grahame, Groves, C Gruen, P Gruen, Hamilton, Harland, Harper, C Harrison, Hayden, Heselwood, Hussain, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jenkins, Khan, Kidger, Knight, Lay, Leadley, Lennox, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Maqsood, McCormack, McKenna, Mulherin,  Nash, Pryor, Rafique, Ragan, Renshaw, Ritchie, Scopes, Shahzad, Smart, E Taylor, Truswell, Tunnicliffe, Venner, Wakefield, Walshaw, Wenham and Wray.

 

NO - 0

 

ABSTAIN – 0