Members of Extinction Rebellion stood outside the Town Council offices as councillors entered for their meeting on Monday, June 10th. Some Extinction Rebellion members, including Kristina Jamieson, of Ross-on-Wye, also attended the meeting, where the councillors voted on a motion regarding a Climate Emergency.

Mayor of Ross, Councillor Jane Roberts noted that it was unusual for a Mayor to propose a resolution to the Town Council, but said that the issue was very important.

Councillor Jane Roberts said: “I welcome that so many people have come to this meeting to support the resolution and I hope that fellow councillors will support the resolution. We do have a climate emergency.”

The Notice of Motion received by Councillor Roberts explained that the impacts of climate breakdown are already causing serious damage around the world. It noted that the ‘Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C’, published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in October 2018, describes the enormous harm that a 2°C average rise in global temperatures is likely to cause compared with a 1.5°C rise, and also confirms that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society and the private sector.

The Motion noted that all governments have a duty to act, and local governments that recognise this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies.

Strong policies to cut emissions, the Motion read, also have associated health, wellbeing and economic benefits and recognising this, a growing number of UK local authorities have already passed Climate Emergency motions.

Councillor Roberts explained that the Motion meant that Ross-on-Wye Town Council commits to declare a Climate Emergency that requires urgent action and make the Council’s activities net-zero carbon by 2023.

Councillor Ed O’Driscoll questioned whether the Council’s current carbon footprint is known, to which Councillor Roberts replied ‘no’. She said: “Looking at our electricity supplier we can deal with the bulk of our emissions, although this may be costly.” She said it would also be important to look at planning applications in terms of their broader sustainability, which is noted in the current Neighbourhood Development Plan.

Councillors Rob Taylor, Tracey Burford and Jane Roberts volunteered to be in the group, and one county councillor will also be part of it. All councillors voted unanimously to accept the Mayor’s motion.See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here