Agenda item
White Paper Motion (in the name of Councillor Forsaith) - COP26
This Council notes the crucial UN Climate Change Conference summit (COP26) currently underway in Glasgow aimed at limiting global temperature rise to 1.50C. Leeds City Council declared a climate emergency in March 2019, with the target of 2030 for achieving carbon neutrality, recognising the part Leeds has to play in this global challenge.
Council recognises that some communities in Leeds have far larger carbon footprints than others. Climate change is already affecting most those who are least able to pay, whilst those with higher incomes add proportionally more to carbon emissions in the City. Council therefore understands that positive actions by more affluent communities and sectors to reduce their carbon emissions can contribute most effectively to ensuring our City reaches net zero carbon by 2030.
Whilst supporting the current work of Leeds City Council on a range of issues that includes fuel poverty reduction and home insulation, Council resolves to focus Leeds City Council carbon reduction plans, and any related policies, on those sectors and those communities that through reducing their high carbon footprints will contribute most to reaching our carbon neutral target. In this way, Council’s response can aim to deliver climate and social justice together with carbon neutrality by 2030.
Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor Forsaith, seconded by Councillor A Blackburn that this Council notes the crucial UN Climate Change Conference summit (COP26) currently underway in Glasgow aimed at limiting global temperature rise to 1.50C. Leeds City Council declared a climate emergency in March 2019, with the target of 2030 for achieving carbon neutrality, recognising the part Leeds has to play in this global challenge.
Council recognises that some communities in Leeds have far larger carbon footprints than others. Climate change is already affecting most those who are least able to pay, whilst those with higher incomes add proportionally more to carbon emissions in the City. Council therefore understands that positive actions by more affluent communities and sectors to reduce their carbon emissions can contribute most effectively to ensuring our City reaches net zero carbon by 2030.
Whilst supporting the current work of Leeds City Council on a range of issues that includes fuel poverty reduction and home insulation, Council resolves to focus Leeds City Council carbon reduction plans, and any related policies, on those sectors and those communities that through reducing their high carbon footprints will contribute most to reaching our carbon neutral target. In this way, Council’s response can aim to deliver climate and social justice together with carbon neutrality by 2030.
An amendment was moved by Councillor Hart-Brooke, seconded by Councillor Howley
Remove all after the first paragraph and insert:
Council recognises that all residents and communities have a part to play in effectively ensuring our City reaches net zero by 2030. Those who pollute most have the most change to make. The city has a vital role in providing residents the systems and infrastructure to enable a greener more pleasant environment for all.
Council therefore calls on the administration to:
· Take clear steps to reverse the cities decline in recycling by introducing city wide glass and food waste collections.
· Roll out Hubbub style yellow and orange recycling bins to all community centres to establish habits in readiness for Deposit Return Scheme introduction.
· Work with Universities and businesses to develop our own infrastructure for biogas generation and renewable energy production using council land.
· Introduce a clean air zone that would see heavily polluting commercial vehicles charged to go through the city centre.
The amended White Paper would then read as follows:
This Council notes the crucial UN Climate Change Conference summit (COP26) currently underway in Glasgow aimed at limiting global temperature rise to 1.50C. Leeds City Council declared a climate emergency in March 2019, with the target of 2030 for achieving carbon neutrality, recognising the part Leeds has to play in this global challenge.
Council recognises that all residents and communities have a part to play in effectively ensuring our City reaches net zero by 2030. Those who pollute most have the most change to make. The city has a vital role in providing residents the systems and infrastructure to enable a greener more pleasant environment for all.
Council therefore calls on the Administration to:
· Take clear steps to reverse the cities decline in recycling by introducing city wide glass and food waste collections.
· Roll out Hubbub style yellow and orange recycling bins to all community centres to establish habits in readiness for Deposit Return Scheme introduction.
· Work with Universities and businesses to develop our own infrastructure for biogas generation and renewable energy production using council land.
· Introduce a clean air zone that would see heavily polluting commercial vehicles charged to go through the city centre.
A second amendment was moved by Councillor Buckley, seconded by Councillor Robinson
Delete all after first paragraph and insert the following:
“Council notes the progress being made locally towards reducing carbon emissions and making wider environmental improvements in Leeds, and supports local initiatives such as the transition to electric vehicles, roll out of the district heating network, and tree planting.
“Council is also mindful of the need to ensure a strong economic recovery from the pandemic, one that will benefit all our communities, and believes climate and economic priorities need to be balanced to ensure communities who are least able to pay are not adversely affected.
“Council calls for a report to be brought to Executive Board setting out how the administration intends to meet the city’s climate goals in the context of promoting economic growth.”
Motion would read:
“This Council notes the crucial UN Climate Change Conference summit (COP26) currently underway in Glasgow aimed at limiting global temperature rise to 1.50C. Leeds City Council declared a climate emergency in March 2019, with the target of 2030 for achieving carbon neutrality, recognising the part Leeds has to play in this global challenge.
“Council notes the progress being made locally towards reducing carbon emissions and making wider environmental improvements in Leeds, and supports local initiatives such as the transition to electric vehicles, roll out of the district heating network, and tree planting.
“Council is also mindful of the need to ensure a strong economic recovery from the pandemic, one that will benefit all our communities, and believes climate and economic priorities need to be balanced to ensure communities who are least able to pay are not adversely affected.
“Council calls for a report to be brought to Executive Board setting out how the administration intends to meet the city’s climate goals in the context of promoting economic growth.”
A third amendment was moved by Councillor Hayden, seconded by Councillor Walshaw
Delete all after paragraph two and replace with:
“Council welcomes current work underway towards helping the City reach net zero, including:
• Planting over 5.8m trees through the Woodland Creation Scheme over the next 25 years.
• Reducing the council’s carbon emissions by more than half by 2025
• The largest fleet of council electric vehicles in the country.
• Removing 2434 tonnes of carbon from Council buildings through the installation of solar panels and heat pumps.
• Removing 5000 tonnes of carbon through the provision of insulation and energy efficiency measures to over 3000 Council homes and 1400 private homes.
• The Council’s flagship District Heating Scheme, which has helped employ more than 430 people in the local low carbon sector including 36 apprentices.
• Embedding sustainable travel at the heart of our transport vision
• Grey to green work including the city park
• Undertaking a Climate Emergency focused Local Plan update that will ensure that future development in Leeds is zero carbon with a focus on reduced energy and travel needs, where people can make a choice not to need a car and where services are more locally based
• securing £25.3 million to decarbonise 38 publicly owned buildings, slashing the city’s carbon emissions by nearly 4,000 tonnes.
Council notes that work has been done alongside the WWF to understand the climate footprint in all areas of the city. Whilst this information informs the work being done and helps define areas of focus, Council notes it is important that green works not only hinder carbon creation but actively support the most deprived communities of the city to deliver climate and social justice alongside carbon neutrality by 2030.”
Full text of amended motion reads:
Council recognises that some communities in Leeds have far larger carbon footprints than others. Climate change is already affecting most those who are least able to pay, whilst those with higher incomes add proportionally more to carbon emissions in the City. Council therefore understands that positive actions by more affluent communities and sectors to reduce their carbon emissions can contribute most effectively to ensuring our City reaches net zero carbon by 2030.
Council welcomes current work underway towards helping the City reach net zero, including:
• Planting over 5.8m trees through the Woodland Creation Scheme over the next 25 years.
• Reducing the council’s carbon emissions by more than half by 2025
• The largest fleet of council electric vehicles in the country.
• Removing 2434 tonnes of carbon from Council buildings through the installation of solar panels and heat pumps.
• Removing 5000 tonnes of carbon through the provision of insulation and energy efficiency measures to over 3000 Council homes and 1400 private homes.
• The Council’s flagship District Heating Scheme, which has helped employ more than 430 people in the local low carbon sector including 36 apprentices.
• Embedding sustainable travel at the heart of our transport vision
• Grey to green work including the city park
• Undertaking a Climate Emergency focused Local Plan update that will ensure that future development in Leeds is zero carbon with a focus on reduced energy and travel needs, where people can make a choice not to need a car and where services are more locally based
• securing £25.3 million to decarbonise 38 publicly owned buildings, slashing the city’s carbon emissions by nearly 4,000 tonnes.
Council notes that work has been done alongside the WWF to understand the climate footprint in all areas of the city. Whilst this information informs the work being done and helps define areas of focus, Council notes it is important that green works not only hinder carbon creation but actively support the most deprived communities of the city to deliver climate and social justice alongside carbon neutrality by 2030.”
The amendments in the name of Councillor Hart-Brooke and Councillor Buckley were declared lost, the amendment in the name of Councillor Hayden was carried and upon being put to the vote it was
RESOLVED – That this Council notes the crucial UN Climate Change Conference summit (COP26) currently underway in Glasgow aimed at limiting global temperature rise to 1.50C. Leeds City Council declared a climate emergency in March 2019, with the target of 2030 for achieving carbon neutrality, recognising the part Leeds has to play in this global challenge.
Council recognises that some communities in Leeds have far larger carbon footprints than others. Climate change is already affecting most those who are least able to pay, whilst those with higher incomes add proportionally more to carbon emissions in the City. Council therefore understands that positive actions by more affluent communities and sectors to reduce their carbon emissions can contribute most effectively to ensuring our City reaches net zero carbon by 2030.
Council welcomes current work underway towards helping the City reach net zero, including:
• Planting over 5.8m trees through the Woodland Creation Scheme over the next 25 years.
• Reducing the council’s carbon emissions by more than half by 2025
• The largest fleet of council electric vehicles in the country.
• Removing 2434 tonnes of carbon from Council buildings through the installation of solar panels and heat pumps.
• Removing 5000 tonnes of carbon through the provision of insulation and energy efficiency measures to over 3000 Council homes and 1400 private homes.
• The Council’s flagship District Heating Scheme, which has helped employ more than 430 people in the local low carbon sector including 36 apprentices.
• Embedding sustainable travel at the heart of our transport vision
• Grey to green work including the city park
• Undertaking a Climate Emergency focused Local Plan update that will ensure that future development in Leeds is zero carbon with a focus on reduced energy and travel needs, where people can make a choice not to need a car and where services are more locally based
• securing £25.3 million to decarbonise 38 publicly owned buildings, slashing the city’s carbon emissions by nearly 4,000 tonnes.
Council notes that work has been done alongside the WWF to understand the climate footprint in all areas of the city. Whilst this information informs the work being done and helps define areas of focus, Council notes it is important that green works not only hinder carbon creation but actively support the most deprived communities of the city to deliver climate and social justice alongside carbon neutrality by 2030.”
On the requisition of Councillors Lennox and Brooks the voting on the substantive motion was recorded as follows;
Akhtar, Arif, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Brooks, Burke, Carlill, Charlwood, Coupar, Cunningham, Dowson, Dye, Flint, Forsaith, Gabriel, Garthwaite, Gibson, Goddard, P Grahame, Groves, C Gruen, Hamilton, Harland, Hayden, Heselwood, A Hussain, Z Hussain, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jenkins, Lennox, Lewis, Maqsood, Marshall-Katung, Martin, McKenna, Midgley, Mulherin, Nash, Pryor, Rafique, Ragan, Renshaw, Ritchie, Scopes, Shahzad, Sharpe, E Taylor, Truswell, Venner, Walshaw and Wray.
NO - 0
ABSTAIN - 17
Bentley, Campbell, Chapman, Dobson, Downes, Field, Finnigan, Firth, Gettings, Golton, Hart-Brooke, Howley, Kidger, Lay, McCormack, D Seary and Senior.
Supporting documents:
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