Climate Emergency Declaration

Approved at Full Council on Monday 19th June 2023.

Loughton and Great Holm Parish Council notes: 

• That global temperatures have already risen over 1° Celsius from pre-industrial levels and that the recent 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report states that we have fewer than 12 years to act on climate change if global temperature rises are to be kept within the recommended 1.5° Celsius in order to avoid serious, damaging and likely irreversible environmental, economic and social impacts. 

• That all governments and councils (national, regional and local) have a duty to act, and that, recognising this, a growing number of local authorities in the UK have already passed Climate Emergency motions. 

Loughton and Great Holm Parish Council therefore: 

1. Formally declares a Climate Emergency that requires urgent action. 

2. Calls on the UK government to provide the powers, resources and funding support to make local, as well as national, action against climate change possible. 

3. Commits to working with partners across the City, County and nationally. 

4. Commits to working towards making the Council’s activities net zero carbon by 2030. 

5. Commits to developing, within 12 months, a clear action plan and timescale for being net zero carbon across our Council operations. To include a review of all functions of the Council, including lighting, land management and supply chains with an aim to reduce carbon. 

6.  Commits to considering the environmental impact of all actions and climate consideration will form an intrinsic part of working processes.