Town Council Declares Climate Emergency
On 16th November 2021 Stony Stratford Town Council Declares a Climate Emergency! ‘There is no Planet B’
Background: On 31st October – 12th November 2021, the UK hosted the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).
Climate change will affect us all and is affecting Stony Stratford NOW! December 2020 saw the worst floods for many years. The impacts of climate breakdown are already causing serious damage around the world. The Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in October 2018;
a) 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
b) 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.
If the world is to stay within 1.5°C rise, developed countries like the UK need to cut emissions faster than poorer countries and achieve net-zero carbon by 2030. Strong policies to cut emissions also have associated health, well-being and economic benefits.
Whilst national governments need to act ambitiously on climate change through legislation and international cooperation, we believe there is also a lot we can do as a town, and as neighbourhoods and households to reduce our carbon footprint and create a greener, more healthy future for everyone in Stony Stratford.
What does ‘Declaring a Climate Emergency’ mean for Stony Stratford Town Council in principal?
- Working with Milton Keynes Council, other partners and local organisations to help make Stony Stratford carbon neutral by 2030
- Work with our providers to ensure our services are delivered in a way that helps to tackle the crisis
- Work with NALC and other representative bodies to ensure we share best practice across the sector
- Setting up a Climate Working Group to work up an Action Plan with associated budget
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Come and join the Climate Working Group, led by Cllr Hannah O’Neill. Contact Lynne Compton, Town Clerk for details: office@stonystratford.gov.uk or 01908-566726. All welcome!