Council

Date of meeting 15 December 2022

Agenda Item 67

 


 

 

CONSERVATIVE Group Amendment

 

CLIMATE EMERGENCY FOUR YEARS ON

That the relevant changes are made to the recommendations as shown below in strikethrough and bold italics:

 

This council notes:

 

  1. The city council declared a climate and biodiversity emergency in December 2018 [1]
  2. That following dramatic weather events over the autumn, it is clear that climate change isn’t just coming – it is here and has already had an impact on the city such as with localised flooding.
  3. That the council recognises that its failure to take timely action on weeds and leaves clearing has contributed to exacerbating the impact of localised flooding.
  4. The council’s Carbon Neutral Programme's focus on Carbon Reduction, Climate Adaptation and Conserving & Enhancing Biodiversity and the annual report showing our performance [2]
  5. Information made available on the council website on the action being taken on the climate and biodiversity emergency, including the recent annual report (Link: Appendix 1 Annual Report 2021-22 FINAL covers.pdf (brighton-hove.gov.uk)
  6. Accepts that it must set out in public the emissions targets required for the city to become carbon neutral by 2050 in line with the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC).
  7. The work of the Brighton Chamber to encouraging business to become net zero champions [3]

 

Therefore, resolves to request:

 

  1. The Chief Executive to write to businesses and third sector organisations in the city, offering highlighting:-

 

(a)  What real and tangible technical and financial support is available to enable businesses to disclose their carbon emissions under their sectors’ ESG obligations. The Council’s actions to address the climate and biodiversity emergency;

(b)  What opportunities are available for leasing To lease vacant and opportunity high grade office and retail space that complies with legislation on energy efficiency and future EPC changes thereby enabling businesses to reduce their carbon emissions.  That the council contributes less than 2% of the city’s carbon emissions and advertising the support available to businesses to cut transport emissions, such as the e-cargo bike accelerator project.

 

  1. The Chief Executive to write to the Chair of the UK Infrastructure Bank asking for details on the funding offered to Leeds City Council under the Local Low Carbon Accelerator (LLCA) partnership established by a sub-group of the Prime Minister’s Business Council to deliver a major retrofit scheme accessible for homeowners in Leeds, noting Brighton and Hove request to access support offered by the Bank to help Local Authorities speed-up the rollout of crucial local net zero infrastructure projects. The Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for environment, food and rural affairs asking them to provide further funding to councils, businesses and third sector organisations to tackle the climate and biodiversity emergency, calling upon the government to publish a full set of environmental performance indicators.

 

Proposed by: Cllr Bagaeen                                            Seconded by: Cllr Nemeth

Recommendations to read if carried:

 

This council notes:

 

  1. The city council declared a climate and biodiversity emergency in December 2018 [1]
  2. That following dramatic weather events over the autumn, it is clear that climate change isn’t just coming – it is here and has already had an impact on the city such as with localised flooding.
  3. That the council recognises that its failure to take timely action on weeds and leaves clearing has contributed to exacerbating the impact of localised flooding.
  4. The council’s Carbon Neutral Programme's focus on Carbon Reduction, Climate Adaptation and Conserving & Enhancing Biodiversity and the annual report showing our performance [2]
  5. Information made available on the council website on the action being taken on the climate and biodiversity emergency, including the recent annual report (Link: Appendix 1 Annual Report 2021-22 FINAL covers.pdf (brighton-hove.gov.uk)
  6. Accepts that it must set out in public the emissions targets required for the city to become carbon neutral by 2050 in line with the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC).
  7. The work of the Brighton Chamber to encouraging business to become net zero champions [3]

 

Therefore, resolves to request:

 

  1. The Chief Executive  to write to businesses and third sector organisations in the city, offering:-

 

(a)  Real and tangible technical and financial support to enable businesses to disclose their carbon emissions under their sectors’ ESG obligations.

(b)  To lease vacant and opportunity high grade office and retail space that complies with legislation on energy efficiency and future EPC changes thereby enabling businesses to reduce their carbon emissions.  T

 

  1. The Chief Executive to write to the Chair of the UK Infrastructure Bank asking for details on the funding offered to Leeds City Council under the Local Low Carbon Accelerator (LLCA) partnership established by a sub-group of the Prime Minister’s Business Council to deliver a major retrofit scheme accessible for homeowners in Leeds, noting Brighton and Hove request to access support offered by the Bank to help Local Authorities speed-up the rollout of crucial local net zero infrastructure projects.