Cllr Vicki PiteA motion calling on Enfield Council to take steps to help tackle the global climate emergency is on the agenda for tonight's meeting of the full council.
If approved tonight, the motion tabled by Councillor Vicki Pite will add Enfield's name to those of a growing list of councils which have passed climate emergency motions in response to the dire warnings contained in a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Most notably, the London Assembly passed a motion on 6th December 2018 calling on the Mayor of London to declare a climate emergency, which he subsequently did later in the month.
The London Assembly motion was proposed by Caroline Russell, a Green assembly member, and passed without opposition.
Locally, the Enfield Green Party (EGP) has welcomed the inclusion of the climate emergency motion in the council meeting agenda.
EGP spokesperson David Flint said:
David Flint"The strong consensus of climate scientists and economists – backed by a majority of the public – is that urgent action is required by individuals and by all levels of government.
"Concern about climate change is far from new and should by now have resulted in greenhouse gas emissions falling. In fact, emissions rose by nearly three per cent last year, and this fact alone justifies calling the situation an emergency.
"We are pleased to see that a motion calling on Enfield Council to declare a Climate Emergency is on the agenda for its next meeting. We urge all councillors to ensure that the motion is debated and approved and to instruct council officers to identify ways to reduce emissions in the borough of Enfield."
According to official figures, Enfield residents created, on average, carbon dioxide emissions of 3.4 tons per person in 2016. Of that 1.3 tons came from our houses and another 1.3 tons from travel and transport.
Mr Flint outlines some of the ways in which these greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced:
"Domestic emissions (and home comfort) can be reduced by raising building standards and improving older property. Travel emissions (and air quality and health) can be improved by encouraging cycling and walking and creating Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. Enfield Green Party has long campaigned for these changes."
Motion 11.10 in the name of Councillor Vicki Pite
More than a dozen councils, including the London Assembly, have passed 'climate emergency' motions since the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) “Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5O C”, published in October 2018, described the enormous harm that a 2°C rise in world temperature is likely to cause, urging instead that governments and authorities world-wide seek to limit global warming to 1.5O C.
The London Assembly, in a unanimous vote, called on the Mayor of London to put an emergency plan in place and declare a climate emergency in London.
Reflecting the will of the London Assembly, Enfield Council
- Notes the IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C and endorses the proposal that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities and others.
- Notes the Mayor’s climate change mitigation and adaptation responsibilities and recognises that he aims to make London a zero-carbon city by 2050 and would welcome, and support, further ambitious steps.
- Welcomes actions by Bristol city council and other city councils around the world to declare and commit resources to tackling a ‘Climate Emergency’
- Requests cabinet and officers to examine what more can be done locally to further this agenda and to publish a plan setting out these actions for debate.
Enfield Council further asks, in line with the unanimous vote of the London Assembly, that the leaders of both parties write to:
- The Mayor of London to declare a climate emergency, supported by specific emergency plans with the actions needed to make London carbon neutral by 2030, and, as vice chair of the C40 Cities network, to be a leader on this agenda.
- The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs urging him to give the Mayor of London the powers and funding to make this possible.