This summer, the UK has witnessed the highest temperatures on record, nine regions of drought zones and the driest July since 1935. Alongside this, there is the looming danger of the cost of living crisis with energy prices rising fourfold and experts predicting that two-thirds of the UK population will be under threat of fuel poverty by January 2023.

 

Our over-reliance on fossil fuels and the need for a transition to renewable energy has never been so clear.

 

Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt in the UK and around the world. The global temperature has already increased by 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels, and the natural world has reached crisis point, with 28% of plants and animals threatened with extinction.

 

Council will be aware that the UN Environment report published last month, finds that there is currently no credible pathway to 1.5°C in place. In tandem with this there is a severe biodiversity crisis.

 

The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. More than one in seven of our plants and animals face extinction, and more than 40% are in decline. If we fail to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, we increase the risk of further pandemics, rising global temperatures and loss of species. The UK needs a legally enforceable nature target so that, by 2030, nature is visibly and measurably on the path to recovery, in line with the Global Goal for Nature.

 

This council notes that:

 

There is a Bill that was introduced into the current UK Parliament in May 2022 - the Climate and Ecology Bill - which, if it becomes law, would require the development of a strategy to ensure that the UK’s environmental response is in line with the latest science.

 

The Bill is the only proposed legislation before the UK Parliament that ensures a comprehensive approach to the joint climate and nature emergency.

 

It would ensure that:

 

·                The Paris Agreement aim is enshrined into law to ensure that the UK does its full and fair share to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C;

·                We halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 to ensure that the UK’s ecosystems are protected and restored;

·                The UK takes responsibility for its greenhouse gas footprint, including international aviation and shipping, and by accounting for consumption emissions related to the goods and services that are imported and consumed in the UK;

·                The UK takes responsibility for its ecological footprint in order to better protect the health and resilience of ecosystems, including along domestic and global supply chains; and

·                n independent, temporary Climate and Nature Assembly is set-up, representative of the UK population, to engage with the UK Parliament and UK Government to help develop the strategy. This would be setup on broadly similar lines to the Climate Assembly 2020 which was very successful and very well received on all sides of the political divide.

 

Over 130 MPs have publicly pledged their support for the Bill, including Greater Manchester MPs Debbie Abrahams, Rebecca Long Bailey, Tony Lloyd and Barbara Keeley. Over 200 councils have vouched their backing of the Bill together with two in Greater Manchester.

 

When Rishi Sunak was appointed Prime Minister, he made the disgraceful decision to shun COP27. It was only after intense pressure from politicians and activist groups that he finally gave in and turned up at the conference. This shows that with enough pressure from MPs and councils, even this Tory government can sometimes be shamed into doing the right thing.

 

Therefore, this council resolves to:-

 

(1)      Support the Climate and Ecology Bill;

(2)      Write to Manchester MPs Mike Kane, Afzal Khan, Lucy Powell, Jeff Smith and Graham Stringer, letting them know that this motion has been passed, and urging them to sign up to support the Bill; and

(3)      Write to Zero Hour, the organisers of the cross-party campaign for the Bill, expressing its support (joinus@ceebill.uk).

 

Proposed by Councillor Nunney, seconded by Councillor Johnson and supported by Councillors Bayunu, Good and Leech.

Councillor Nunney proposed the motion, which was seconded by Councillor Johnson:-

 

This summer, the UK has witnessed the highest temperatures on record, nine regions of drought zones and the driest July since 1935. Alongside this, there is the looming danger of the cost-of-living crisis with energy prices rising fourfold and experts predicting that two-thirds of the UK population will be under threat of fuel poverty by January 2023.

 

Our over-reliance on fossil fuels and the need for a transition to renewable energy has never been so clear.

 

Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt in the UK and around the world. The global temperature has already increased by 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels, and the natural world has reached crisis point, with 28% of plants and animals threatened with extinction.

 

Council will be aware that the UN Environment report published last month, finds that there is currently no credible pathway to 1.5°C in place. In tandem with this there is a severe biodiversity crisis.

 

The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. More than one in seven of our plants and animals face extinction, and more than 40% are in decline. If we fail to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, we increase the risk of further pandemics, rising global temperatures and loss of species. The UK needs a legally enforceable nature target so that, by 2030, nature is visibly and measurably on the path to recovery, in line with the Global Goal for Nature.

 

This council notes that:

 

There is a Bill that was introduced into the current UK Parliament in May 2022 - the Climate and Ecology Bill - which, if it becomes law, would require the development of a strategy to ensure that the UK’s environmental response is in line with the latest science.

 

The Bill is the only proposed legislation before the UK Parliament that ensures a comprehensive approach to the joint climate and nature emergency.

 

It would ensure that:

 

·                the Paris Agreement aim is enshrined into law to ensure that the UK does its full and fair share to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C;

·                we halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 to ensure that the UK’s ecosystems are protected and restored;

·                the UK takes responsibility for its greenhouse gas footprint, including international aviation and shipping, and by accounting for consumption emissions related to the goods and services that are imported and consumed in the UK;

·                the UK takes responsibility for its ecological footprint in order to better protect the health and resilience of ecosystems, including along domestic and global supply chains; and

·                An independent, temporary Climate and Nature Assembly is set-up, representative of the UK population, to engage with the UK Parliament and UK Government to help develop the strategy. This would be setup on broadly similar lines to the Climate Assembly 2020 which was very successful and very well received on all sides of the political divide.

 

Over 130 MPs have publicly pledged their support for the Bill, including Greater Manchester MPs Debbie Abrahams, Rebecca Long Bailey, Tony Lloyd and Barbara Keeley. Over 200 councils have vouched their backing of the Bill together with two in Greater Manchester.

 

When Rishi Sunak was appointed Prime Minister, he made the disgraceful decision to shun COP27. It was only after intense pressure from politicians and activist groups that he finally gave in and turned up at the conference. This shows that with enough pressure from MPs and councils, even this Tory government can sometimes be shamed into doing the right thing.

 

Therefore, this council resolves to:-

 

(1)      Support the Climate and Ecology Bill;

(2)      Write to Manchester MPs Mike Kane, Afzal Khan, Lucy Powell, Jeff Smith and Graham Stringer, letting them know that this motion has been passed, and urging them to sign up to support the Bill; and

(3)      Write to Zero Hour, the organisers of the cross-party campaign for the Bill, expressing its support (joinus@ceebill.uk).

 

Councillor Johnson moved an amendment to the motion, which was seconded by Councillor Nunney and accepted by Councillor Nunney (proposer). In accordance with Rule of Procedure 20.3, the amendment was incorporated into the motion.

 

Councillor Rawlins moved an amendment to the motion, which was seconded by Councillor Shilton-Godwin and accepted by Councillor Nunney (proposer). In accordance with Rule of Procedure 20.3, the amendment was incorporated into the motion.

 

The amended motion was as follows:

 

This summer, the UK has witnessed the highest temperatures on record, nine regions of drought zones and the driest July since 1935. Alongside this, there is the looming danger of the cost-of-living crisis with energy prices rising fourfold and experts predicting that two-thirds of the UK population will be under threat of fuel poverty by January 2023.

 

Our over-reliance on fossil fuels and the need for a transition to renewable energy has never been so clear.

 

Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt in the UK and around the world. The global temperature has already increased by 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels, and the natural world has reached crisis point, with 28% of plants and animals threatened with extinction.

 

Council will be aware that the UN Environment report published last month, finds that there is currently no credible pathway to 1.5°C in place. In tandem with this there is a severe biodiversity crisis.

 

The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. More than one in seven of our plants and animals face extinction, and more than 40% are in decline. If we fail to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, we increase the risk of further pandemics, rising global temperatures and loss of species. The UK needs a legally enforceable nature target so that, by 2030, nature is visibly and measurably on the path to recovery, in line with the Global Goal for Nature.

 

This council notes that:

 

·         There is a Bill that was introduced into the UK Parliament - the Climate and Ecology Bill - which, if it becomes law, would require the development of a strategy to ensure that the UK’s environmental response is in line with the latest science.

 

·         The Bill is the only proposed legislation before the UK Parliament that ensures a comprehensive approach to the joint climate and nature emergency.

 

·         In 2009 Manchester launched its first collective citywide action plan ‘Manchester: A Certain Future’

 

·         Manchester City Council declared a Climate Emergency in July 2019, setting a science-based target for Manchester to be zero carbon by 2038 at the latest. 

 

·         In March 2020, the Council’s Executive Committee approved the Council’s five-year Climate Change Action Plan 2020-25, which aims to reduce the Council’s direct emissions by 50% and in 2022 Manchester refreshed its Climate Change Framework.

 

·         At COP26, Manchester City Council signed up to the Edinburgh Declaration on Biodiversity.

 

·         Since COP26 in November 2021, the Council produced a Biodiversity Strategy for the city of Manchester, which highlights that "Manchester was the first city in England to sign the Edinburgh Declaration – a global pledge registering our concern about biodiversity loss and signalling our commitment to tackling the twin challenges of the biodiversity and climate crises." Further actions on biodiversity and the natural environment have been included within the refresh of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan 2020-25 (under Workstream 4 – Climate Adaptation, Carbon Storage & Carbon Sequestration), which was approved by Executive in September 2022.

 

·         At the 2022 Local Government Chronicle awards we were Highly Commended for our Climate Change Action Plan, and Climate Change was cited in our Council of the Year Award.

 

·         MCCs Council climate score card for 2021 achieved 87% scoring full marks for ecological emergency.

 

·         The Our Rivers Our City Strategy was shortlisted as a finalist at the Landscape Institute Awards 2022

 

It would ensure that:

 

·         the Paris Agreement aim is enshrined into law to ensure that the UK does its full and fair share to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C;

·         we halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 to ensure that the UK’s ecosystems are protected and restored;

·         the UK takes responsibility for its greenhouse gas footprint, including international aviation and shipping, and by accounting for consumption emissions related to the goods and services that are imported and consumed in the UK;

·         the UK takes responsibility for its ecological footprint in order to better protect the health and resilience of ecosystems, including along domestic and global supply chains; and

·         An independent, temporary Climate and Nature Assembly is set-up, representative of the UK population, to engage with the UK Parliament and UK Government to help develop the strategy. This would be setup on broadly similar lines to the Climate Assembly 2020 which was very successful and very well received on all sides of the political divide.

 

Over 130 MPs have publicly pledged their support for the Bill, including Greater Manchester MPs Debbie Abrahams, Rebecca Long Bailey, Tony Lloyd and Barbara Keeley. Over 200 councils have vouched their backing of the Bill together with two in Greater Manchester.

When Rishi Sunak was appointed Prime Minister, he made the disgraceful decision to shun COP27. It was only after intense pressure from politicians and activist groups that he finally gave in and turned up at the conference. This shows that with enough pressure from MPs and councils, even this Tory government can sometimes be shamed into doing the right thing.

 

Therefore, this council resolves to:-

 

1.         Support the Climate and Ecology Bill;

2.         Write to Manchester MPs Mike Kane, Afzal Khan, Lucy Powell, Jeff Smith and Graham Stringer, letting them know that this motion has been passed, and urging them to sign up to support the Bill; and

3.         Write to Zero Hour, the organisers of the cross-party campaign for the Bill, expressing its support (joinus@ceebill.uk).

 

Resolution

 

The motion, as amended, was then put to the Council and the Lord Mayor declared it was carried unanimously.

 

Decision

 

This Council resolves to:-

 

1.         Support the Climate and Ecology Bill;

2.         Write to Manchester MPs Mike Kane, Afzal Khan, Lucy Powell, Jeff Smith and Graham Stringer, letting them know that this motion has been passed, and urging them to sign up to support the Bill; and

3.         Write to Zero Hour, the organisers of the cross-party campaign for the Bill, expressing its support (joinus@ceebill.uk).