Express & Star

Council urged to declare climate emergency

Stone community leaders have been urged to declare a climate emergency and aim for the town to become carbon-neutral by 2030.

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A Google Street View image of Stone Town Council's office in Station Road, Stone

Several councils across the country have already declared a climate emergency and are now working towards reducing their carbon emissions.

Many have done so in the wake of a 2018 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warning of the devastating consequences of a global temperature rise of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Newly elected Stone councillor Tom Adamson made the request to town council colleagues to follow suit at a meeting of the environment sub-committee on Tuesday.

He said: “We have 12 years to act to reduce the effects of climate change and as a town council we need to be clear that we want to address this emergency.

“We would also set a target that Stone will try to become carbon neutral by 2030 and I would suggest setting up a working group to come up with an action plan – not just councillors but people of all age ranges.

“We should also put pressure on the borough and county councils to declare a climate emergency. We have got to put environmental impact as a higher priority in our decision making and we could be a beacon for Staffordshire.

“We could become the first town to become carbon neutral.”

In 2018 resident Tracey Lindop called on the town council to support a national scheme that encourages communities to reduce their plastic use. The town council has since set up a Plastic Free Community and Environmental Issues working group.

Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting Councillor Philip Leason, chair of the environment sub-committee, said he would discuss Councillor Adamson’s proposal with the working group, which is due to meet later this month.

Councillor Jill Hood said: “I have to praise Tom for what he has put forward. Even my four-year-old grandson is learning about environmental issues at playgroup – it’s so important to the younger generation.”

Councillor Mark Hatton said: “I think some of this is for the town clerk to investigate. It’s worth identifying areas where the town council could make improvements – for example we could buy in green energy.”

But Councillor Rob Kenney said: “We can’t go and declare a climate emergency without looking at it. Firstly, can we afford it? If we can’t afford it as a council it’s something that would be impossible for us to do.

“I think everything should go to the working group first for a report. One of the first things we could start doing is changing everything to LED lighting.”