ºù«ÍÞapp

ºù«ÍÞapp Borough Council has updated its Climate Emergency declaration to include a nature emergency and outlined its aim to join the UK100 group of local authorities advocating a local-led rapid transition to net zero and clean air ahead of the Government’s legal target.

In the revised declaration, which was approved at yesterday’s Full Council meeting, the council resolves to:

•  reduce its direct carbon emissions to net zero by 2030, while improving air quality and halting biodiversity loss
•  work with its partners, residents and businesses in ºù«ÍÞapp to eliminate its indirect emissions and achieve net zero across the borough by 2045

Declaring a nature emergency alongside the existing climate emergency acknowledges the strong links between climate change, biodiversity loss and air quality. It will enable the council to focus on meeting the additional responsibilities and obligations for halting biodiversity loss that the Environment Act 2021 has given local authorities across the country.

The council plans to halt biodiversity loss by ensuring that all new developments increase biodiversity, implementing its tree strategy and continuing to invest in its parks and green spaces to allow species to thrive and ensure everyone has access to them.

Air quality is closely linked to burning fossil fuels for transport. The council aims to improve this by encouraging active and sustainable travel and reducing congestion.

The updated Climate Emergency declaration can be found on our Climate Emergency page.