Agenda item

"The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in their October report stated that if the planet wants to avert dangerous climate breakdown, we need to cut emissions in half by 2030, and hit zero by the middle of the century.

Oxfordshire is already doing its bit: we are committed to reducing emissions from our own estate and activities by 3% a year. Unfortunately, our current plans are not enough. The IPCC’s report suggests that the world has just a dozen years left to restrict global warming to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels. Should they increase by 2℃,  humanity’s capacity to prevent catastrophic food shortages, floods, droughts, extreme heat and poverty will be severely impaired. Limiting Global Warming to 1.5℃ may still be possible, but only with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities. Furthermore, bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities.

Oxfordshire County Council calls on the Leader to:

1.      Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;

2.      Pledge to make Oxfordshire County Council carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions;

3.      Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible;

4.      Continue to work with partners across the county and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies;

5.      Report to Council within six months with the actions the Council will take to address this emergency."

Councillor Hayward sought the permission of Council to amend his motion at the suggestion of Councillor Fatemian.

Following some dissent, the motion to amend was put to the vote and was carried by 44 votes to 14.

With the consent of Council, Councillor Damian Haywood moved and Councillor Bob Johnston seconded his motion amended at the suggestion of Councillor Arash Fatemian as shown in bold italics and strikethrough below:

“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in their October report stated that if the planet wants to avert dangerous climate breakdown, we need to cut emissions in half by 2030, and hit zero by the middle of the century.

Oxfordshire is already doing its bit: we are committed to reducing emissions from our own estate and activities by 3% a year. Unfortunately, our current plans are not enough. The IPCC’s report suggests that the world has just a dozen years left to restrict global warming to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels. Should they increase by 2℃, humanity’s capacity to prevent catastrophic food shortages, floods, droughts, extreme heat and poverty will be severely impaired. Limiting Global Warming to 1.5℃ may still be possible, but only with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities. Furthermore, bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities.

Oxfordshire County Council calls on the Leader to:

1.      Declare acknowledge a ‘Climate Emergency and call for action’;

2.      Pledge to make Oxfordshire County Council carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions;

3.      Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible;

4.      Continue to work with partners across the county and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies;

5.      Report to Council within six months with the actions the Council will take to address this emergency."

Following debate, the motion as amended was put to the vote and was agreed unanimously (57 votes to 0).

RESOLVED:  (unanimous)

“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in their October report stated that if the planet wants to avert dangerous climate breakdown, we need to cut emissions in half by 2030, and hit zero by the middle of the century.

Oxfordshire is already doing its bit: we are committed to reducing emissions from our own estate and activities by 3% a year. Unfortunately, our current plans are not enough. The IPCC’s report suggests that the world has just a dozen years left to restrict global warming to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels. Should they increase by 2℃, humanity’s capacity to prevent catastrophic food shortages, floods, droughts, extreme heat and poverty will be severely impaired. Limiting Global Warming to 1.5℃ may still be possible, but only with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities. Furthermore, bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities.

Oxfordshire County Council calls on the Leader to:

1.      Acknowledge a ‘Climate Emergency and call for action’;

2.      Pledge to make Oxfordshire County Council carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions;

3.      Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible;

4.      Continue to work with partners across the county and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies;

5.      Report to Council within six months with the actions the Council will take to address this emergency."