The following motion has been submitted by Councillor D K Watts on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group:
‘’The council notes:
1) The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015. It entered into force on 4 November 2016. Its overarching goal is to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”
2) The UK led the world with the Climate Change Act of 2008, and did so again with its commitment to Net Zero by 2050.
3) Despite the stated aim of the Paris Climate Agreement it is highly likely that global temperatures are already at or close to 1.5 degree above pre-industrial levels.
4) Broxtowe Borough Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 with a target of being carbon neutral by 2027.
5) Broxtowe Borough Council have adopted the Green Futures programme to reduce its own carbon footprint and to encourage residents in the borough to do the same.
6) In 2020 the Climate Change Committee in Parliament said: “The UK’s net-zero target will not be met without changes in how we use our land. Those changes must start now.”
7) On 28 October 2024 the United Nations released its “Synthesis Report” which assesses the combined impact of nations’ current national climate plans on expected global emissions in 2030, among other measures.This report shows that National Climate Plans “fall miles short of what's needed.” The United Nations said that the Synthesis Report must be a turning point, ending the era of inadequacy and sparking a new age of acceleration, and called for much bolder new national climate plans from every country to be produced by the end of 2025.
8) The United Nations went on to say that much bolder new national climate plans can not only avert climate chaos – done well, they can be transformational for people and prosperity in every nation. Bolder new climate plans are vital to drive stronger investment, economic growth and opportunity, more jobs, less pollution, better health and lower costs, and more secure and affordable clean energy, among many others benefits.
9) The consequences of climate change are now very clear to see and affect every community, including Broxtowe. Changes in weather patterns mean that events that were previously described as a 1 in 100 years’ event are now occurring on a much more frequent basis.
This Council Believes:
a) Climate Change is the biggest challenge facing the planet. The need to take action to tackle climate change is now more urgent than ever;
b) Both national and local government can and must provide a lead on this;
c) That the previous commitments of the UK government, whilst better than most countries, have not gone far enough. The UK’s current targets are far from sufficient to achieve the 1.5°C limit and that there is a significant ‘Ambition Gap’ between what successive governments have spoken about and what is actually needed.
d) The Climate and Nature Bill represents an important step forward in the UK tackling climate change.
This Council further notes that if made law the Climate and Nature Bill would ensure that the UK:
1) Creates a joined-up plan—the crises in climate and nature are deeply intertwined, requiring a plan that considers both together.
2) Cuts emissions in line with 1.5°C—ensuring UK emissions are reduced rapidly, for the last chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C.
3) Not only halts, but also reverses the decline in nature—setting nature measurably on the path to recovery by 2030.
4) Takes responsibility for our overseas footprint—both emissions and ecological.
5) Prioritises nature in decision-making, and ends fossil fuel production and imports as rapidly as possible.
6) Ensures no-one is left behind—through fairness provisions.
7) Involves the public—giving people a say in finding a fair way forward through a Climate & Nature Assembly, an essential tool for bringing the public along with the unprecedented pace of change required.
This Council therefore expresses its support for the Climate and Nature Bill and calls on the two Members of Parliament representing Broxtowe to vote in favour of it when the bill comes up for debate.’’