WREXHAM Council has agreed to declare a climate emergency as councillors pledged for the authority to become carbon neutral by 2030.

It comes after a motion was put forward by a cross-party group warning of the ‘significant risk’ to the environment unless emissions are reduced, as well as people’s health and the economy.

Climate protesters gathered outside Wrexham’s Guildhall before the meeting held yesterday (DEL WEDNESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER) to show their support for the proposals.

They included some displaying banners proclaiming “There is no Planet B” and “Tell the truth – act now”.

At the start of proceedings, Plaid Cymru’s Carrie Harper, who was one of the three signatories behind the motion, advised her colleagues there could be a humanitarian disaster without further action.

“Last year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change produced a landmark report.

“The report warned that there were only 12 years for global warming to be kept to a maximum of 1.5C, beyond which even half a degree will significantly worsen the risk of drought, floods, extreme heat and will mean poverty for hundreds of millions of people.

“This isn’t just about what will happen, climate change is already happening, and we’ve already got to deal with the effects of temperature increase that we’ve already locked in, but we can do something to mitigate further risk.

“The evidence is crystal clear – climate change is real, it’s here and it’s driven by us.”

In response to the motion, members of the the authority’s ruling administration highlighted work which had already been done to reduce emissions in the county.

Efforts to date have seen the installation of more than 2,600 solar panels on council houses, as well as on council offices and 17 schools.

Meanwhile, the council has also replaced thousands of street lights with new energy-efficient LED lanterns to cut down on carbon and reduce maintenance costs.

 

Cllr David A Bithell, said he acknowledged that more could be done, and supported the declaration of a climate emergency subject to amendments to the wording of the original motion.

He said: “Understandably, public bodies want to respond to climate change and to continue to expand the excellent work being done by many to reduce carbon emissions through the services they provide.

“As with any motion passed, the language and content of declarations is very important as public bodies are likely to be held account.

“What I would say in response to the movers of the motions is that Wrexham Council are committed to reducing our emissions.

“There is a target that Wrexham Council agreed at the May council meeting and has declared the public sector should be carbon neutral by 2030.

“A plan is currently being prepared under four key areas and this is in order for us to prepare to become a carbon neutral authority.”

At the end of the meeting, councillors unanimously supported the amended motion which saw them follow in the footsteps of several UK authorities by declaring a climate emergency.

A report will be presented to a meeting of the full council in May 2020 to show how it will meet future challenges, including climate change.