Agenda item

Climate Change

It was moved by Councillor Brian Webster, seconded by Councillor Robert Murphy, that this Council:-

(a)       believes that climate change is one of the most significant challenges facing the world today, and that policy-makers and elected representatives at all levels of government have a moral responsibility to take the necessary actions to mitigate it;

(b)       notes that vital international climate talks (‘COP21’) are scheduled to start in Paris, France on 30th November 2015, and believes that citizen pressure on all national governments will be crucial to ensure they put forward strong commitments to action on climate in order to help create a zero-poverty, zero-carbon world;

(c)        therefore, calls upon central government to approach the COP21 talks with a commitment to adopting substantial cuts to UK emissions in the short term, taking into account the UK’s position as a leading global emitter of greenhouse gases both historically and today, with a view to reaching a global agreement to limit global temperature rises to below 2 degrees Celsius;

(d)       recalls that there is huge job potential from climate action, with the third edition of the 'One Million Climate Jobs' report (supported by trade unions and environmental groups) demonstrating how 150 million new jobs could be created worldwide by an effective mitigation programme, or 1 million in the UK, which could equate to 10,000 jobs in Sheffield;

(e)       believes that city-level action is feasible and can be significant, as shown by Climate Smart Cities worldwide, and that action taken in Sheffield could also contribute towards addressing many other priorities including fuel poverty, poor air quality and local economic regeneration;

(f)        instructs officers to use appropriate opportunities (for example responses to relevant consultations, and discussions on any 'devolution deal') to encourage central government to act on reducing UK emissions, especially calling for government to enable and fund large-scale local energy-savings schemes and renewable energy generation led by local councils;

(g)       urges the Administration to examine how a large-scale climate action programme in Sheffield of home insulation, public transport, energy efficiency and renewable energy generation could help to deliver the Council’s priorities on health, economy and fairness, and to plan how to achieve these benefits;

(h)       believes that the Council should take the opportunity of news coverage of COP21 to increase awareness and interest locally in the need for, and potential benefits of, climate action in Sheffield and nationally, by:

(i)         responding with energy and imagination to the report of the Green Commission, and publicising how climate action can help Sheffield’s citizens; and

(ii)        using appropriate avenues to publicise the ‘Time for the Climate’ event on Saturday 28th November 2015, being run by Sheffield Climate Alliance, to all Council employees, for example through a suitable public display (e.g. a banner on the Town Hall), and in media releases;

(i)         calls on Members to consider participating in the ‘Time for the Climate’ event on 28th November, and to help to raise awareness of this and the national ‘Time to Act’ demonstration in London on 29th November, through their networks and with their constituents; and

(j)         instructs officers to send a copy of this motion to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Terry Fox, seconded by Councillor Tony Downing, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.         the deletion of paragraph (g) and the addition of a new paragraph (g) as follows:-

(g)       looks forward to the findings and recommendations of the Green Commission, which will examine a range of factors, including the role of home insulation, energy efficiency and renewable energy generation, and hopes for cross-party consensus to enable the Administration to progress this important agenda; and

2.         the addition of a new paragraph (h) as follows, and the re-lettering of original paragraphs (h) to (j) as new paragraphs (i) to (k):-

(h)       was disappointed that the previous Coalition Government cut funding for the Warm Front scheme – an initiative which made a significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions and tackling fuel poverty;

On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

(Note: Councillors Aodan Marken, Brian Webster, Robert Murphy and Sarah Jane Smalley voted for part 2 and against part 1 of the amendment and asked for this to be recorded.)

It was then moved by Councillor Joe Otten, seconded by Councillor Colin Ross, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of new paragraphs (b) and (c) as follows, and the re-lettering of original paragraphs (b) to (j) as new paragraphs (d) to (l):-

(b)       notes that under Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the Rt. Hon Ed Davey MP, the previous Coalition Government advanced the cause of green energy through measures such as:

(i)         investing £37 billion in renewable energy, supporting half a million jobs, reducing our carbon emissions and improving Britain’s energy security;

(ii)        setting up Britain's first Green Investment Bank; and

(iii)       establishing the first Community Energy Strategy, setting out the role that communities can play in helping to meet the UK’s energy and climate change challenges, including supporting a sustainable and secure energy system, reducing UK greenhouse gas emissions, and lowering consumer bills;

(c)       regrets that much of this good work is being undone by the present Government;

On being put to the vote, the amendment was negatived.

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-