Agenda item

Helen Palmer asked the Executive Member for Resident Services, Communications and Emissions the following question:

 

Question

Please will Wokingham Council declare its support for the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill.

 

Drafted by scientists, legal experts, ecological economists and environmentalists, the CEE Bill is designed specifically to reverse the climate and ecological breakdown we are facing.  The Bill requires the UK to take responsibility for its fair share of greenhouse gas emissions, to actively restore biodiverse habitats, and to stop damaging our natural world through the production, transportation and disposal of the goods we consume.  In this bill, the nature emergency is tackled shoulder to shoulder with the climate crisis via an urgent, joined up, whole of government approach.

 

Due for its second reading next month, the Bill now has support of 115 MPs across 8 political parties and 103 Councils.  Will Wokingham Borough become the 104th Council to support the CEE Bill?

Minutes:

 

Please will Wokingham Council declare its support for the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill.

 

Drafted by scientists, legal experts, ecological economists and environmentalists, the CEE Bill is designed specifically to reverse the climate and ecological breakdown we are facing.  The Bill requires the UK to take responsibility for its fair share of greenhouse gas emissions, to actively restore biodiverse habitats, and to stop damaging our natural world through the production, transportation and disposal of the goods we consume.  In this bill, the nature emergency is tackled shoulder to shoulder with the climate crisis via an urgent, joined up, whole of government approach.

 

Due for its second reading next month, the Bill now has support of 115 MPs across 8 political parties and 103 Councils.  Will Wokingham Borough become the 104th Council to support the CEE Bill?

 

Answer

The Council recognises that there is an intrinsic link between climate change and ecology and through its Climate Emergency Action Plan, the Council has already set up targets that will help to protect and support biodiversity in our Borough.

 

The Council has already established a strong track record for delivery on actions to address climate change, and is currently strengthening the exiting strategies, policies and actions plans to deal with the effects of climate change.

 

The Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for Wokingham introduces natural climate solutions to combat land degradation and actions for improving the environmental quality, attractiveness and recreational potential of public spaces, rivers and waterways. Additionally, the CEAP establishes actions to improve grassland management, encourage wildflowers, hedge planting zones and the commitment for a major tree-planting exercise.

 

It is important to highlight that there are two pieces of legislation that will support addressing the climate crisis. The Agriculture Act 2020 provides range of powers to implement new approaches to farm payments and land management.  In England, farmers will be paid to produce ‘public goods’ such as environmental or animal welfare improvements.

 

The Environment Bill, which is currently at the 3rd reading stages on the House of Lords, brings about urgent and meaningful action to combat the environmental and climate crises we are facing and acts as a key vehicle for delivering the bold vision set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan.  It will support the country’s desire to build back better after Covid-19 with measures that support both economic growth and the Government’s manifesto.

 

To support the Council efforts to address climate change and its effects, more support and guidance is needed from Central Government, as the Council’s own statutory powers and responsibilities are limited in terms of what we are able to do in achieving net zero carbon. For this reason, we will await the vote on the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill with interest and review the potential implications on the function of local government, our residents and our resources.

 

Supplementary Question

Do you accept that Wokingham is part of the bigger picture and that the collapse of the ecosystem, which is imminent, will affect the whole world. I accept that you are doing local things and that is great, but I don’t think that what the Government is doing is anywhere near strong enough. I see no harm in supporting this much stronger Bill. Do you agree?

 

Supplementary Answer

I am not in a position to comment on Government policy. All I can do is talk about what we are doing here in Wokingham, where I have already laid out that we are taking action to improve biodiversity, reduce our carbon footprint and address climate change within our Borough. We will focus on biodiversity. We will improve biodiversity net gain across our Borough. We will do it using the mechanisms available to us.