Southwark Council must declare a climate emergency and bring plans to go carbon neutral forward by two decades, says Southwark Green Party, as it prepares to take a deputation to this month’s assembly.
Southwark Greens chair, Louise Young, exclusively said on Tuesday that the Greens would be taking a deputation to the upcoming council assembly meeting on Wednesday, March 27, where they hope to garner cross-party support on climate action.
She says a coalition of environmental and campaigning groups support the measures, including 373 online petition signatories. The News understands Labour backbenchers and Liberal Democrat opposition councillors may be considering a similar move.
The council has committed to going carbon neutral by 2050, but the Greens say this target is ‘too distant’ after a new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change showed we have just eleven years to avoid the catastrophic effects of global warming.
“I have written to the Leader of the Council, Cllr Peter John, to urge him to support our call for Southwark Council to declare a climate emergency,” Ms Young told the News.
“2050 is too distant a target to set to become carbon neutral – Southwark, and London, needs to move quickly to meet the target by 2030.
“We know the council has ambitions to be a leading local authority in terms of green credentials, so this is the ideal way for to make a mark.
“While our council claims to be ambitious in its green credentials, not committing to a 2030 carbon neutral target will fly in the face of the recommendations of the intergovernmental panel on climate change’s recent special report on 1.5C of global warming.
“Now is the time to make a plan of action to improve our communities and green healthy spaces.”
To sign the petition, visit change.org/p/southwark-council-declare-a-climate-emergency