Broadland: Climate and Biodiversity Emergency declared

The declaration was made on the same day that the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released data that confirms July is set to be the hottest month ever recorded in human history. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres also worryingly declared “The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived”.

Broadland District Council’s portfolio holder for Environment, Jan Davis, commented:

“It is time for the Council to join the UK Parliament and approximately 75% of Local Authorities in declaring a climate emergency. Norfolk councils have been making efforts to cut carbon emissions, but the science demands we act more effectively and faster.

Biodiversity is also under severe threat. The restoration of nature is vital for its own sake whilst also helping to address climate change.  Climate change and the loss of biodiversity must be considered together.”

The Climate and Biodiversity Emergency motion was passed with 23 votes in favour and 14 against.

The Motion as presented to Council on Thursday 27th July 2023:

11.3   Motion: Cllrs J Davis and S Holland  

This Council Notes:

That the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 degrees C (IPCC, October 2018) describes the enormous harm that a 2 degree C rise in global temperatures is likely to cause compared with a 1.5 degree C rise, and that limiting Global Warming to 1.5 degree C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, and the private sector.

The rate of climate change is increasing and lack of rapid action to address it is causing alarm in the scientific community (IPCC Progress Report to Parliament 28 June 2023, IPCC Sixth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis). 

Norfolk’s councils are cutting carbon emissions in their areas, but not as fast as the science demands.  BDC adopted an organisational 2030 target for achieving net- zero carbon emissions on 13 October 2022, but this does not address wider district carbon emissions.

The UK Parliament and approximately 300 Local Authorities (75%) have declared a climate emergency (LGA,2022)

Biodiversity is essential both to humans, through the provision of ecosystem services such as food, fuel, flood prevention and enjoyment, and in its own right as part of the natural world. 

Biodiversity is under severe threat.  Nearly 500 species have become extinct in England in the last 200 years, 40% of the UK’s reedbeds have disappeared since 1945, 75% of England’s lowland heaths have been lost in the last 200 years, nearly 50% of England and Wales’ ancient woodland has been destroyed and current rates of extinction may be 1,000 times greater than global natural background levels.  (Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership).    

The Environment Act 2021 set out the importance of biodiversity net gain, an approach to development that aims to leave the natural environment in a better state than it was beforehand, together with a stronger legal duty for public bodies to conserve and enhance biodiversity. 

Actions to restore nature and biodiversity are vital for their own sake, and increase storage of carbon, helping to address climate change.  Climate change and the loss of biodiversity will change the future for humanity and should be considered in conjunction with each other.

Motion

1) Council recognises the dangerous and accelerating effects of unmitigated climate change and ecological destruction for Broadland, Norfolk, and globally.

2) Council resolves to declare a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency to highlight the importance and significance of climate change and biodiversity in all we do. 

3) Council resolves to act accordingly within the limits of its resources and powers and report back regularly on progress.