East Dorset Friends of the Earth today called upon the new BCP Council to declare a Climate Emergency 1 in the local area. We have identified 5 key environmental issues 2 which need to be addressed, and proposed 12 specific policies which should be adopted to tackle the issues. The five pledges were circulated to all candidates prior to the election.
EDFOE spokesman, Dr Martin Price says: “We congratulate all those who were elected, and are delighted that the new Council reflects a broad range of political opinion. We look forward to a constructive and fruitful dialogue with the new Councillors on the best way to protect and enhance the environment of Bournemouth/Poole/Christchurch.”
“To this end, we are calling on the new Council to join the growing list of local authorities which have already declared the Emergency. East Dorset Friends of the Earth urge all new councillors to adopt this strategy, and believe that the 12 key policies that we propose form an excellent basis for taking forward such a declaration. We remain more than willing to discuss these suggestions individually or collectively with Councillors.”
On Wednesday 1st May, the House of Commons overwhelming approved a
motion to declare an environment and climate emergency in the UK. This motion is non-binding, but several local authorities have already declared Climate Emergency status in their area.
The full list of pledges and policies (in bold) are:
1. Create a robust Climate Change Action Plan, with the aim of reaching zero net carbon emissions by 2030, especially through Zero Carbon Social Housing and other Council builds. Measures would include promoting energy conservation (domestic and business), domestic solar electricity and other forms of renewable energy as community generation schemes.
a. BCP to declare a Climate and Environmental Emergency in the Council area;
b. BCP to prepare a Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) for the area;
c. In order to develop the CCAP, BCP to establish a Citizens’ Assembly, consisting of councillors and officers, representatives of business, the community and environmental groups, to assist in the development of the CCAP.
2. Reduce air pollution by the creation of Clean Air Zones, banning diesel delivery vehicles from residential areas, subsidies (or licence conditions) to encourage local bus companies and taxis to switch to electric vehicles, restricting business parking (including free parking at supermarkets) and embedding a ‘net health gain’ principle in all new developments and other council programmes.
a. BCP to appoint and entirely independent professional body to monitor air pollution and report to the Council. Locations and sites for monitoring would be agreed between BCP and representatives of the Citizens’ Assembly;
b. BCP to create Clean Air Zones in identified areas of excessively poor air quality;
c. BCP to revoke planning permission for the Wessex Fields development.
3. Support pedestrian and cycle safety by: increasing the number of segregated cycle-lanes and removal of speed humps where roads are shared between motor vehicles and cycles; banning pavement parking.
a. BCP to produce a totally revised Travel Plan for the area, with the prime target of reducing carbon-emissions from vehicles to zero by 2040 at the latest;
b. BCP to hold full public consultations on the Plan at an early stage – ie. before the production of the first draft plan.
4. Set a target of becoming a Zero Waste Authority: this to include free garden/food waste collections; reductions in frequency of black bin collections to encourage recycling; active policies to engage with supermarkets and other businesses to cease employing single-use plastics.
a. BCP to commit to becoming a Zero Waste Authority by 2030;
b. BCP to review all current policies and contracts, with a view to maximising the recycling of waste, and to move towards creating a circular waste economy in the area.
5. Promote biodiversity by policies which prioritise the retention and improvement of wildlife habitats, and phasing out herbicide and pesticide use, especially within community open spaces.
a. BCP to re-adopt the Earth Charter, and commit to becoming a sustainable food and Fairtrade Authority;
b. BCP to establish a Standing Committee on Biodiversity, to include representatives of environmental and community groups, businesses as well as councillors and officers, to provide input to the development of all key policies, (particularly planning and transport plans).
