Time is running out for action on climate change as Hampshire Tories defer 10:10 Motion - yet again!

9.24.00pm GMT Tue 23rd Feb 2010

The Lib Dem campaign to get Hampshire County Council to join the 10:10 climate change campaign has again met a major set back as the Tories decided to defer the matter again.

"By the time we get to look at my 10:10 climate change motion again it will have been discussed at 3 full council meetings and we are still no closer at getting County to sign up to it - all we get are deferrals and excuses.

"Once again Hampshire Tories have failed to lead by example and sign up to the 10:10 campaign on Climate Change - the idea is to try and reduce our carbon footprint by 3-10% by the end of the financial year 2010 / 2011.

"The overwhelming consensus is that we have perhaps just a decade now before climate change becomes totally irreversible but all we get are more excuses. In fact senior officers told us it would take 10 years to reduce by 10 percent - that is frankly too little too late ! We need urgent action and we need it now.

"This stunning lack of community leadership just goes to show that for all David Cameron's spin and "green-wash" his Conservatives are simply not prepared to take the action required to really get to grips with this issue. Worse still many of them seem in total denial that climate change is man made and even happening - our meeting the other day was like listening over and over to a scratched record of George Bush.

"The worrying truth is the amount of carbon is still going up - Lib Dems have already succeeded in getting Hampshire County Council to sign up to the Nottingham Declaration on climate change which required the council to draw up a action plan to tackle the causes and effects of climate change. Its fine for dealing with the effects but we need some real action now on the causes. Hampshire are doing some things but we must reduce the carbon footprint of all Hampshire County Council buildings and schools, develop a totally green vehicle fleet and encourage all our staff to car share and use public transport. Lib Dems have also advocated spending a million pounds to set up a climate change fund to really get to grips with this issue.

"Unless we take urgent action now it will be too late .... its like driving a car towards a cliff edge at full speed with no brakes !

Our Liberal Democrat group have already signed up to 10:10 and we challenge Hampshire County Council to do the same."

Many councils and community groups have already signed up to the 2010 campaign, including Eastleigh Borough Council, Winchester City Council and East Hants District Council.

Despite Lib Dem protests Hampshire's Environment and Transport Select Committee has recommended not to join the 1010 campaign for the time being - the whole matter will be discussed at the next full council meeting of Hampshire County Council.

ENDS

Liberal Democrat 1010 Motion in Full

This Council notes:

1. Climate change predictions show that without severe cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, the world will be hit by drought, flooding and famine affecting all of us and poorest countries the worst. Some of these countries are already suffering from the effects of climate change. This is an issue of social justice as well as environmental justice.

2. That under current commitments the UK is due to cut emissions by 34 percent by 2020. It is hoped that negotiations at Copenhagen will lead to stricter commitments. Climate change scientists advise that cuts of 10% a year are needed to avert the worst consequences of climate change.

3. To ensure a breakthrough, at the critical Copenhagen conference, that may just save our planet from climate change, Ministers need to know that people in their countries are behind them.

4. At the time of writing almost 30 councils so far have signed up to the 10% by 2010 "10:10 campaign" started by Franny Armstrong which seeks to get individuals and organizations to make a firm commitment.

This Council believes that it is possible to achieve this target with the right degree of political will, and that it is important to show its commitment to making these emission reductions.

This Council therefore resolves to sign up to the 10:10 campaign and make a firm commitment to reduce its emissions as measured for National Indicator 185 by 10 percent between end-2009 and end-2010.