Purpose
On
16 September 2019 Full Council passed a motion declaring a
‘Climate Emergency’ and made a carbon neutrality
commitment for Rother District with a target date of 2030.
The Climate Change Steering Group has been established by Cabinet
to develop, plan and initiate the steps that the
Council will need to take to meet this highly ambitious
target.
Objectives
·
To produce an action plan or strategy that is designed to ensure
that the operations of the Council are carbon neutral by 2030.
·
To identify relevant existing powers that the Council may exercise,
and any additional powers to be requested from Central Government,
that could be used to encourage carbon neutrality throughout the
district.
·
To identify which policies, strategies and working practices of the
Council might require amendment, and to outline a timescale for
reviewing these.
·
Identify and consult with existing external bodies and
partnerships; and make recommendations on new partnerships that
should be established to help achieve the 2030 target.
·
Identify citizens across Rother who are climate champions for their
communities and to use them to inform on ideas to implement
locally.
·
To investigate all possible sources of external funding and match
funding to support this commitment.
·
Investigate what Rother District Council can do to minimise the
emission of gases other than CO2 which adversely affect climate
change.
·
To present a pre-consultation draft action plan to Council for
consideration no later than 24 February 2020, including
recommendations for next steps and resource requirements.
Scope
For the purposes of
this initiative, the operations of the Council are considered to be
any action taken by the Council either institutionally or through
its Members, staff, volunteers, and contractors in the discharge of
its duties.
In developing the
action plan the Steering Group will need to consider the existing
carbon footprint of the Council, existing and emerging carbon
reducing technologies, opportunities for change in institutional
and personal behaviour, the impact of Council property assets, and
the likely financial cost and resource requirements for meeting the
2030 target.
The Steering Group
will also consider wider issues related to climate change over
which the Council might wield influence, but do not directly
contribute to our own carbon footprint.