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Agenda item
Motion (Rule 14)
Councillor Jobson to propose:
Climate change is impacting us all. Hastings has been directly impacted by climate change, as increasing rainfall has led to serious and repeated flooding. In February we had the heaviest rainfall in Hastings for over 100 years. Further flooding is likely.
Serious landslips have been occurring more frequently in recent months, notably on Caves Road, St Margaret’s Road and at Old Roar Gill. While the causes are currently unclear, it’s certain that the extreme rainfall makes the risk of landslips much worse. Together with the floods they are posing risks to homes and infrastructure and affect decisions about the future of our town.
We have to do all we can to make sure our town is resilient in the face of rising climate challenges as well as in the face of the complete lack of action or long term funding streams for this work by national government. Currently there is no national funding to help us secure our many miles of cliffs. It’s clear we need a national joined up environmental plan to tackle the climate crisis that is already affecting our town and communities across the world.
Last year’s soaring temperatures made it clear the 1.5 degrees Celsius benchmark is slipping away. International climate officials confirmed that 2023 was the planet’s hottest year on record, and 2024 may be even hotter. These rises are having extensive consequences. The average global temperature has already increased by 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels and—alongside this—the natural world has reached crisis point, with 28% of plants and animals threatened with extinction. The UK is already one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world as more than one in seven of our plants and animals face extinction, and more than 40% are in decline.
The Climate and Ecology Bill, which is scheduled to be reintroduced to Parliament in April 2024, requires the United Kingdom to take its responsibility for our fair share of greenhouse gas emissions and to commit to a carbon budget that would keep temperature rises below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The Bill has been introduced in the UK Parliament on four occasions since 2020, including most recently in the House of Commons 10 May 2023. The Bill is backed by about 180 cross-party MPs and Peers, and about 237 local authorities, alongside the support of eminent scientists, such as Sir David King; NGOs, such as the Wildlife Trusts, the Doctors’ Association, Oxfam, the W.I. and CPRE; businesses, such as The Co-operative Bank, Riverford and The Body Shop; and 42,000 members of the public.
The CE Bill would require the UK Government to develop and achieve a new environmental strategy, which would include:
1. Delivering a joined-up environmental plan, as the crises in climate and nature are deeply intertwined, and require a plan that considers both together;
2. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with 1.5°C to ensure the best chance of meeting the UK’s Paris Agreement obligations;
3. Not just halting, but reversing the decline in nature, setting nature measurably on the path to recovery by 2030;
4. Taking responsibility for our overseas footprint, both emissions and ecological;
5. Prioritising nature in decision-making, and ending fossil fuel production and imports as rapidly as possible;
6. Providing for re-training for those people currently working in fossil fuel industries; and
7. Giving the British people a say in finding a fair way forward via a temporary, independent and representative Climate & Nature Assembly, as part of creating consensus and ensuring that no one and no community is left behind.
Hastings Borough Council therefore resolves to:
1. Support the Climate and Ecology Bill;
2. Inform local residents and local press/media of this decision;
3. Write to our MP Sally-Ann Hart to inform her that this motion has been passed, and to urge her to support the CE Bill;
4. Write to Zero Hour, the organisers of the cross-party campaign for the CE Bill, expressing Hasting Borough Council’s support;
5. Pledge to work with our communities and partners to reverse the decline in biodiversity and protect our town, ensuring that these related issues are taken into account in all decision-making;
6. Draw upon our Green Levy reserve to appoint a Climate Adaptation Officer, whose first task will be to work with partners to develop a Climate Adaptation Action Plan and ensure that the Council makes substantive progress on our Climate Strategy and Action Plan.
7. Work with community groups across the town to identify funding for a local citizen’s assembly on developing a town wide climate action plan that includes all the major stakeholders so we can create ways of joint working across the business, community, health and education sectors as well as empowering local residents.
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