8 November 2023
Councillors at Truro City Council have voted unanimously to support the Climate and Ecology Bill following a motion raised at Full Council and are calling on Truro and Falmouth MP Cherilyn Mackrory to support the bill when it gets its second reading in Parliament.
“The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with more than one in seven of our plants and animals facing extinction, and more than 40% in decline “ said Truro Mayor Cllr Carol Swain . “Unless we drastically change course, the world is set to exceed the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit”.
Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt in the UK, and across the world. The average global temperature has already increased by 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels. Research shows that this gap between pledges and policy leaves the world on course for catastrophic warming of near 3°C.
The Climate and Ecology Bill, a private member’s bill currently before the House of Commons, seeks to address the challenges that this situation poses by creating a whole-of-government approach to deliver a net zero and nature positive future.
By bridging the gap between the UK Government’s current delivery, and what has been agreed at international levels, Britain has a chance to be a world leader on climate and the environment; seizing the opportunities of the clean energy transition, including green jobs and skills; reduced energy bills; and boosting the UK’s food and energy security.
“Nature provides our best chance of mitigating climate change and its worst impacts, such as extreme flooding and drought. This means that protecting nature must take equal priority with cutting emissions” said Cllr Swain.
“This bill, which has been written by scientists, experts and campaigners, aims to stop the destruction of nature and I am very proud that the Council has given it its full support”.
Supported by 80 cross-party MPs and Peers and 237 local authorities, alongside the support of eminent scientists, such as Sir David King; NGOs, such as the Wildlife Trusts, the Doctors’ Association, Oxfam, the W.I. and CPRE; businesses, such as The Co-operative Bank, Riverford and The Body Shop; and 42,000 members of the public, the Climate and Ecology Bill would require the development of a strategy to ensure that the UK’s environmental response is in line with the latest science.
This would include:
- Delivering a joined-up environmental plan, as the crises in climate and nature are deeply intertwined, and require a plan that considers both together;
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with 1.5°C to ensure emissions are reduced in line with the best chance of meeting the UK’s Paris Agreement obligations;
- Not only halting, but also reversing the decline in nature, setting nature measurably on the path to recovery by 2030;
- Taking responsibility for our overseas footprint, both emissions and ecological;
- Prioritising nature in decision-making, and ending fossil fuel production and imports as rapidly as possible;
- Providing for re-training for those people currently working in fossil fuel industries; and
- Giving the British people a say in finding a fair way forward via a temporary, independent and representative Climate & Nature Assembly, as part of creating consensus and ensuring that no one and no community is left behind.
The Council is writing to Cherilyn Mackrory to provide notice that the motion has been passed and urge her to sign up to support the Climate and Ecology Bill in Parliament.
