Declaration of Climate Emergency

In April 2021 Llangattock Community Council declared a Climate & Ecological Emergency:

Background:

• Climate change is the greatest threat facing future generations. On 29th April 2019 Welsh Government declared a climate emergency. This followed the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) latest report saying that we had 12 years to avoid climate breakdown. (now 8yrs)
• A week later the Intergovernmental Panel for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) findings highlighted that nature is declining globally at unprecedented rates, the rate of species extinction is accelerating with a million species under threat, with grave impacts on people around the world.
• IPCC panel special report on Global warming predicts severe impacts to health, home and environment, with the severe floods of Oct 2019, Feb 2020 and again in Spring 2021 endangering Powys communities, clearly demonstrating that we are ill prepared for the challenges we face.
• By declaring an emergency, councils are demonstrating their collective leadership and signifying the urgency which, as a publicly accountable body, they place on tackling climate change and decarbonising the economy as required by The Environment (Wales) Act 2016.
• Wellbeing of Future Generations Act: although as a small Council we are not bound by this Act (only applies to Councils with income over £200K) we do still have a duty to adhere to its principles. The Act requires public bodies in Wales to think about the long-term impact of their decisions, to work better with people, communities and each other, and to prevent persistent problems such as poverty, health inequalities and climate change.
• Polling shows 85% of Britons are now concerned about climate change, with the majority (52%) very concerned. (Ipsos Mori Aug 2019). As we represent around 1200 people in Llangattock, it may be correct to assume that over half of our residents may be concerned about climate change and we have a responsibility to play our part in the necessary changes that will be needed.

Motion:

1. Join with other councils across Wales in declaring a Climate and Ecological Emergency.
2. Support the implementation of "Prosperity for All: A Low Carbon Wales" (March 2019) to make Powys County Council a net zero carbon local authority by 2030.
3. Monitor the PCC Cross-party working group and the Powys-wide multi-stakeholder group, through attendance of PACE meetings and other outside bodies as well as liaison with the Llangattock County Councillor.
4. Support PCC in its aim of pressuring Welsh Government and UK Government to provide the necessary support and resources to enable effective carbon reductions and transition to a green Powys economy.
5. LCC to commit to reducing the decline in biodiversity in its area and realise the importance of biodiversity conservation and enhancement for our community's health and wellbeing. (Under the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 all public bodies in Wales are required to maintain and enhance biodiversity when carrying out their responsibilities and in doing so promote the resilience of ecosystems.)
6. Work towards ensuring that sustainability is embedded in all that the Council undertakes.
7. Strengthen the village's resilience with respect to the impacts of anticipated climate changes and the risks this poses, working with PCC and the Volunteer flood warden scheme as well as considering other future resilience measures.

Five Councils Environment Working Group

Llangattock Community Council have been working alongside Llangattock Green Valleys (LGV) on projects for a while, but recently have joined a wider Five-Council Environment Group, which LGV are steering. The idea being that larger environmental projects will overlap and affect all our communities and we would be better working together. If you are interested in getting involved, have an idea you would like to pursue or have relevant experience that may help, then please do get in touch.