A COUNCIL must do more to reduce its carbon footprint to avoid damaging children’s futures, councillors and campaigners have said.

Three councillors are set to table a cross-party motion to get Denbighshire County Council to commit to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

It is understood that despite the Welsh Government’s “climate emergency” declaration in April, the council is yet to carry out an extensive review of its carbon emissions.

Environmental campaigners say that climate change has already taken effect in Wales, causing higher temperatures and flooding, rising sea levels, and habitat and biodiversity loss - including the disappearance of seven species of bee from the country.

The new motion, to be presented at a full council meeting on July 2, states that the council has to launch a task and finish group to lead a six-month survey of each of its departments, from social care and housing to waste and transport. It is believed the council would then be better informed about the changes it needs to make to become carbon neutral within the following nine years.

Cllr Graham Timms, Llangollen, said that if approved the motion would encourage “far, far more effort” by the council to reduce its carbon footprint across the board.

“At the moment we are just ‘making progress’ without any clear direction,” he said. “If we set up a task and finish group with a deadline of 2030 by the latest, then there would certainly be more work done because otherwise we would not hit the target.”

Cllr Mabon ap Gwynfor, Llandrillo, last year called for the council to electrify its fleet of cars and warned that rising sea levels could damage coastal towns in Denbighshire.

He said that because of academic consensus on the urgent need to become cut carbon emissions he is “hopeful” that the new motion will be passed.

“The scientific evidence is there that we have 10 years to become carbon neutral before we step off the edge of a cliff and put our children’s futures in danger,” Cllr ap Gwynfor said.

He added that climate change will lead to expensive problems so environmentally friendly measures “will prove cost-effective in the long run”.

“The council has made some progress but it is still, for example, building homes and schools which do not have solar panels. Green issues have to be at the centre of its plans.”

Cllr Joe Welch, Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch, added that Denbighshire councillors cannot know what actions need to be taken until an extensive review is completed.

The motion has been backed by environmental campaigners who said the Welsh Government’s “climate emergency” declaration needs to be followed through at all levels of government.

Warren Davies, Friends of the Earth Llangollen co-ordinator, said the council “has a key role to play in protecting us from climate change”. He urged residents to contact their councillor to voice their support for the motion.

“An emergency response to climate change is the only reasonable response,” he added.

Mair Davies, environmental campaigner from Ruthin, added that the council needs to pressure the Welsh Government and UK Government for funding to reduce its emissions.

Brian Jones, lead member for waste, transport and the environment, could not be contacted before the Free Press went to print on Tuesday.

Huw Hilditch-Roberts, lead member for education, children and young people, said he will support the motion, however he is wary of setting a deadline until the survey is concluded.