Council Leader sets national lobbying agenda on climate change
Local government and communities are a step closer to better representation at the upcoming international conference on climate change action, thanks to a call to action proposed by Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council at the Local Government Association’s annual conference.
The agreed motion will see national Government lobbied by the Local Government Association and councils across the country to ensure the “adequate representation of local government at COP26”.
COP26 is the twenty sixth United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, being held in Glasgow on 31 October – 12 November 2021. The COP26 summit brings parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Councillor Mac Cafferty’s motion is seconded by Councillor Siriol Hugh-Jones, Brighton & Hove City Council, Councillor Julian Dean, Shropshire Council and Councillor Scott Ainslie, Lambeth Council.
The motion refers to the “significant and far reaching steps” that councils across the United Kingdom are taking to combat climate change, cut carbon emissions and protect our environment and puts Brighton & Hove firmly at the forefront when it comes to driving and demanding action by national Government on the climate and biodiversity emergency.
Councillor Mac Cafferty’s motion also promotes sustainable food policies, which tie in closely with the commitment by national governments around the world to tackle the climate emergency through integrated food policies - known as the Glasgow Declaration.
Local government must have a seat at the COP26 table
Speaking about the importance of the motion and what it means, Councillor Mac Cafferty stressed that it was vital that local government have a seat at the COP26 table. He said:
“Local Government needs to have an active role in the discussion and decisions taking place at COP26.
“The Climate crisis is already with us – at home and abroad. This week we have seen the worst fires in the history of Cyprus. In the Gulf of Mexico the sea is on fire as a result of a major oil pipeline disaster. Record heatwaves in Canada have killed 500 people. In the UK, the British Geological Survey has found that an estimated 2.4million homes are at risk of subsidence due to changing weather conditions.
“Immediate, bold and urgent targets are being set to tackle emissions and mitigate the worst effects of the crisis country-wide. Examples abound of innovation, creativity, ambition; in reducing carbon and of working together to reduce inequality, to drive down fuel bills, create warmer homes, grow food, increase our health and wellbeing and tackle air pollution. The leaders of this are local councils, councillors and their communities.
“The motion promotes further signatories to the Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration, which Brighton and Hove City council signed in the autumn and also supports the promotion of UK100 – a UK network of locally elected leaders working to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
“In Brighton & Hove £27m is being invested into climate projects. This includes investment in cleaner energy like hydrogen, rewilding green spaces and a programme for Warmer Homes, to name but a few.
“Brighton & Hove’s Climate Assembly harnessed the magnificent local interest in action on climate change, and saw residents list their top ten priorities for action including a car free city centre. As a city we have held what is understood to have been the first Youth Climate Assembly to capture the priorities of the generations that will sadly inherit this crisis.
“Ultimately, local action is critical to climate change and local councils have a huge role to play. If the climate talks are to be a success, they must mandate local action and develop clear and far-reaching plans to support community and council-led climate interventions.”
