“In 2018, at COP24, the UK Government signed up to ‘domestic institutional arrangements, public participation and engagement with local communities’ so localities can play their part in delivering the UK’s ‘Nationally Determined Contributions’ in the Paris Agreement.
In May 2021 the Rt. Hon. Alok Sharma MP, President of COP26, said collaboration would be a key objective of the COP26 climate summit; “Governments, business and civil society (sometimes called ‘non- state actors’ and including local government) need to work together to transform the ways we power our homes and businesses, grow our food, develop infrastructure and move ourselves and goods around.”
Despite these agreements and statements there is still no formal relationship for partnership working between Local and National Government on climate action.
This Council:-
(a) notes that Cabinet has already adopted the recommendations of the ‘Pathways to Zero Carbon Oxfordshire’ report1, the most detailed plan ever made for the decarbonisation of Oxfordshire's economy;
(b) adds its voice to calls by the Local Government Association and others for a joint local and national government Task Force to work towards ‘net zero’ emissions, able to set appropriate regulations, benchmarks and targets and create long-term funding mechanisms to support local communities and economies to decarbonize; and
(c) asks the Leader to write to Alok Sharma MP, President for COP26, the Prime Minister, and the Leadership Board of the LGA, informing them of our support for such a Task Force and asking for one to be established as soon as possible.”
1https://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/news/2021/0629-pathways-to-zero-carbon-oxfordshire.html
Minutes:
With the consent of Council, Councillor Sally Povolotsky moved and Councillor Liz Brighouse seconded the following motion amended by the suggestion of Councillor Robin Bennett as follows:
In May 2021 the Rt. Hon. Alok Sharma MP,
President of COP26, said collaboration
would be a key objective of the COP26 climate summit;
“Governments, business and civil society (sometimes called
‘non- state actors’ and including local government)
need to work together to transform the ways we power our homes and
businesses, grow our food, develop infrastructure and move
ourselves and goods around.” The Glasgow Climate Pact text agreed at the
COP26 summit “recognises the important role of non-Party
stakeholders, including civil society, indigenous peoples, local
communities, youth, children, local and regional governments and
other stakeholders, in contributing to progress towards the goals
of the Paris
Agreement;”2
Despite these agreements and statements there is still no formal relationship for partnership working between Local and National Government on climate action.
This Council:-
(a) notes that Cabinet has already adopted the recommendations of the ‘Pathways to Zero Carbon Oxfordshire’ report1, the most detailed plan ever made for the decarbonisation of Oxfordshire's economy;
(b) adds its voice to calls by the Local Government Association and others for a joint local and national government Task Force to work towards ‘net zero’ emissions, able to set appropriate regulations, benchmarks and targets and create long-term funding mechanisms to support local communities and economies to decarbonize; and
(c) asks the Leader to write to Alok Sharma MP, President for COP26, the Prime Minister, and the Leadership Board of the LGA, informing them of our support for such a Task Force and asking for one to be established as soon as possible.”
1https://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/news/2021/0629-pathways-to-zero-carbon-oxfordshire.html
2 https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cop26_auv_2f_cover_decision.pdf
Following debate, the motion as amended was put to the vote and was carried by 17 votes to 0 (unanimously).
RESOLVED: (unanimously)
“In 2018, at COP24, the UK Government signed up to ‘domestic institutional arrangements, public participation and engagement with local communities’ so localities can play their part in delivering the UK’s ‘Nationally Determined Contributions’ in the Paris Agreement.
In May 2021 the Rt. Hon. Alok Sharma MP, President of COP26, said collaboration would be a key objective of COP26. The Glasgow Climate Pact text agreed at the COP26 summit “recognises the important role of non-Party stakeholders, including civil society, indigenous peoples, local communities, youth, children, local and regional governments and other stakeholders, in contributing to progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement;” 2
Despite these agreements and statements there is still no formal relationship for partnership working between Local and National Government on climate action.
This Council:-
(a) notes that Cabinet has already adopted the recommendations of the ‘Pathways to Zero Carbon Oxfordshire’ report1, the most detailed plan ever made for the decarbonisation of Oxfordshire's economy;
(b) adds its voice to calls by the Local Government Association and others for a joint local and national government Task Force to work towards ‘net zero’ emissions, able to set appropriate regulations, benchmarks and targets and create long-term funding mechanisms to support local communities and economies to decarbonize; and
(c) asks the Leader to write to Alok Sharma MP, President for COP26, the Prime Minister, and the Leadership Board of the LGA, informing them of our support for such a Task Force and asking for one to be established as soon as possible.”
1https://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/news/2021/0629-pathways-to-zero-carbon-oxfordshire.html
2 https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cop26_auv_2f_cover_decision.pdf