ePetition details

We call on the Council to declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
1. Pledge to make West Berkshire carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions;
2. Ensure West Berkshire’s economic leadership in the region continues by investing in renewable technologies and capitalising on the growth in renewable innovation.
3. Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible and work with other governments (both within the UK and internationally) to determine and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5°C;
4. Continue to work with partners across West Berkshire and the wider region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans;
Provide an outline strategy by 1st June 2019 to ensure the transition to a zero carbon future by 2030 is initiated.

Notes for Council.

Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt around the world. Global temperatures have already increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm). This far exceeds the 350 ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity;
The IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, published last month, describes the enormous harm that a 2°C rise is likely to cause compared to a 1.5°C rise, and told us that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities;
In order to reduce the chance of runaway Global Warming and limit the effects of Climate Breakdown, it is imperative that we as a species reduce our CO2eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes per person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible;
Individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs to change its laws, taxation, infrastructure, etc., to make low carbon living easier and the new norm;
Carbon emissions result from both production and consumption;
Unfortunately, our current plans and actions are not enough. The world is on track to overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050;
West Berkshire Council has the opportunity to show leadership when it comes to addressing the issue of Climate Breakdown. Through innovation and vision it could implement a corporate carbon reduction target of net carbon neutrality by 2030;
Councils around the world are responding by declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and committing resources to address this emergency.

We believe that:
All governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of Climate Breakdown, and local governments that recognise this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies. It is important for the residents of West Berkshire and the UK that communities commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible;
Local Authorities such as West Berkshire ,should expand use of renewable sources of energy within a local community framework, and expand integrated public transport networks.
West Berkshire Council could emulate Bristol City Council and declare a climate emergency. We have a duty to be one of the leaders on environmental issues in the UK;
The consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are so severe that preventing this from happening must be humanity’s number one priority;
Bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities (as well as improved well-being for people in West Berkshire and worldwide).

This ePetition ran from 28/11/2018 to 09/01/2019 and has now finished.

134 people signed this ePetition.