Bristol has declared a “climate emergency”, with the council unanimously backing a commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030 in an effort to avoid catastrophic climate breakdown. The motion put forward by Green party councillor Carla Denyer and passed on Tuesday means the city has the most ambitious emissions targets of the UK’s core cities group – with radical policy implications in the coming years. The move was triggered by a UN report last month which said the world has just 12 years left to avoid catastrophic climate breakdown. Denyer said: “This is a fantastic day for Bristol and I’m delighted the council will be bringing forward its target for making the city carbon neutral by 2030. She said the UN report made it clear that “time to preserve Earth as we know it is running out”. The target is much more radical than the UK government’s national target of an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050 and comes amid growing concern about interlinked ecological crisis, from climate breakdown to extinction. Denyer said that the Bristol declaration could see a focus on renewable electricity, carbon neutral buildings, congestion charges and investment in clean transport infrastructure. It could also have far-reaching implications for big-ticket projects like the proposed expansion of Bristol airport. The move was inspired by US cities such as Berkeley and Hoboken, and the global C40 cities which have all set ambitious emissions targets. Jonathan Bartley, the co-leader of the Green party, said Bristol’s decision – which won cross-party support on the council – had set “a gold standard on climate action”. “With the UN warning we have just 12 years to limit climate catastrophe this is the common-sense policymaking we need to face the future.”
Guardian 14th Nov 2018 read more »