BCP’s environmental groups in BCP- CAN (Climate Action Network) have joined forces with businesses and other community groups, as well as more than 75 academics, health professionals, community leaders, business leads and private individuals, writing an Open Letter to BCP Council urging them to “act in a manner befitting an emergency” with respect to their Climate and Ecological Emergency Plans. The new coalition, established in late 2020, has over 4,000 members and supporters, including Friends of the Earth, Extinction Rebellion, Zero Carbon Dorset, Greenpeace, Transition Town movement, Trade Unions, and local Climate Reality Leaders, as well as private individuals.
BCP-CAN’s first action as a group follows the council’s consultation survey, open to the public from 4th January – 1st March this year, which asked the opinions of residents on “what matters most” with respect to the council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan. While the BCP-CAN members welcomed the opportunity to provide their views via the council’s survey, the group detailed six critical areas they felt need to be addressed alongside the current climate and ecological emergency plans. This response was sent, on Monday 8th March, in an Open Letter signed by BCP-CAN members, other groups and businesses, as well as community organisers, business leads and activists.
Melissa Carrington from Extinction Rebellion explains: “We are in a climate and ecological emergency which should mean that BCP council has carbon reduction, climate adaptation and nature protection at the very top of its agenda. We are calling for the council, in partnership with the wider public sector, private sector, communities, and the citizens of BCP to co-create a plan that will deliver net zero emissions by 2030.”
The letter suggests that in order to address the climate and ecological crisis, far reaching measures will be needed which require a high degree of public cooperation and support. It recommends that BCP Council therefore commits to a much wider and deeper programme of public engagement, education and consultation incorporating calls for evidence, thematic hearings, and citizens assemblies or citizens juries.
From the Open Letter: “Informed decision making requires time, space and unbiased high-quality information. It means allowing the public the opportunity to hear from experts and to discuss with others allowing the possibility for disagreement and challenge and then working together to come to a consensual solution. Deliberative decision-making increases levels of trust in public policy decisions leading to greater public buy-in and support for the policies.”
Co-ordinator of East Dorset Friends of the Earth, Angela Pooley, comments: “Whilst the BCP Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan is welcomed it by no means goes far enough. Also, to be effective, it must be followed through with actions. That means making the carbon footprint fundamental in all Council decisions. A classic example of showing that this isn’t happening is the recent decision to go ahead with the Air show.”
Mark Chivers, from Zero Carbon Dorset, who helped coordinate signatures for the BCP-CAN network, added: “We are looking forward to a response to our Open Letter. The council and its strategic partners should draw on a wide range of expertise to develop the plan which must be based on meaningful engagement with the public. Our network is happy to advise the council on how to implement our recommendations.”
A copy of the letter is provided below:
On behalf of the attached signatories and supporting organisations (detailed below)
Open letter to all BCP Councillors,
We are grateful to you for canvassing the opinions of residents on “what matters most” with respect to the council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan. Many of the members and supporters of the organisations listed below have welcomed the opportunity to provide their views. However, we are writing, both personally and on the behalf of these groups, to highlight six critical areas that need to be addressed alongside the current climate and ecological emergency plans. These are summarised below and set out in detail in the attached document.
Chambers Dictionary defines an emergency as “an unexpected and serious happening which calls for immediate and determined action”, while the United Nations explained in November 2019 that “emissions need to fall 7.6 percent every year for next decade to meet 1.50 Paris Target”[i] and IPBES warns that “Nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history and the rate of species extinctions is accelerating, with grave impacts on people around the world now likely”[ii]. Despite these facts, the Council’s plans neither align with the scientific requirements nor are being implemented as if we are in an emergency.
Sadly, due to Covid-19, measures have had to be enacted to ensure residents understand both the nature of the health emergency and the actions required to reduce the risks outlined by the science. Whatever one’s views on the handling of the pandemic, both the Government and BCP Council have very clearly been acting and communicating in a manner which reflects the gravity of the situation: raising awareness of the science and outlining the requirements for risk mitigation. In response, for the greater part, residents have followed guidelines, taken care of each other, assisted those less fortunate, and understood and responded accordingly when asked to change their way of life.
Given the above, we are calling on BCP Council to listen to the science on climate and act in a manner befitting an emergency, as has been recognised both by making the declaration and as demonstrated by the approach taken to the pandemic.
While we hope that the responses of residents will support taking drastic action, where they do not, this cannot be used as a reason for inaction. As with the pandemic, the Council must use this to identify where further awareness raising is required and take the lead on communicating the gravity of the situation.
The Council is uniquely placed to create co-ownership between the wider public sector, private sector, communities, and the citizens of BCP. It should follow the lead of many other councils and immediately create a leadership board and task force composed of suitably qualified people and stakeholders to assess the evidence and design the work streams required to select an ambitious target and deliver an area wide plan. This board and task force should be responsible for continually raising ambition and encouraging wider stakeholders to play their part in achieving area wide carbon neutrality by 2030. Plans need to be supported with adequate funding, must be a multi-disciplinary approach ensuring all Council departments are aligned to the requirements of the action plan, and be developed in a manner which does not disadvantage those least able to manage change. In fact, such funding provides an opportunity for jobs, prosperity, and redressing inequalities.
Finally, we strongly advise the Council to reconsider the use of Climate Assemblies, particularly to consider issues of contention or priority. These are a proven way of ensuring that decisions are made using appropriate participative democracy, based on facts and evidence, and taking all views into account. Equally they ensure implementation is seen as considered, appropriate and fair.
We are encouraged that there remains a focus on the climate and ecological action plan despite the change of administration. However, the declaration was a climate and ecological emergency, and we urge you to treat it as such. If you do, we will do everything we possibly can to support you in your endeavours; if not we will continue to raise awareness of the Council’s shortcomings and your duty to act.
Yours sincerely,
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- For and on behalf of:
- Bournemouth and Poole Greenpeace
- Christchurch Climate Action
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- Cimateq Ltd
- Dorset Bird Club
- Earth Charter South
- East Dorset Friends of the Earth
- Extinction Rebellion, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Green New Deal – Dorset Hub
- Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics UK
- Oceans to Earth
- SOBO Wastebusters
- Transition Bournemouth
- Transition Town Poole
- UCU (University and College Union) Bournemouth University
- Warrior Agency
- Your Planet Doctors
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- Zero Carbon Dorset
Signed in personal capacity:
The original letter has also been signed, in personal capacity, by more than 75 local business leaders, academics, health professionals, community and climate activists, and private residents.
[i] Cut global emissions by 7.6 percent every year for next decade to meet 1.5°C Paris target – UN report (unep.org)
[ii] Media Release: Nature’s Dangerous Decline ‘Unprecedented’; Species Extinction Rates ‘Accelerating’ | IPBES
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