... proclaims a press release from Devon County Council:
Devon’s ruling Cabinet has agreed to set aside £250,000 towards an initiative to persuade organisations, communities and individuals to do more to reduce global warming.
Council leader John Hart says Devon has to do more.
He wants to bring together public bodies across the county with business representatives and the utility companies to support urgent action on the climate emergency.
"We clearly can’t do this alone but I want Devon to take a lead in bringing organisations, communities and individuals together to take action.
"This is an issue that affects us all and requires action from all of us from large-scale corporate concerns to the individual resident.
"That’s why I’ve asked the Chief Executive, Phil Norrey, to lead on this to demonstrate how seriously we are taking it."
This comes at a time when there are calls for the UK's planning system to evolve to help deliver a net zero carbon target. The Committee on Climate Change’s recent report Net Zero The UK's contribution to stopping global warming warned:
Realising deep emissions reductions in buildings will require co-ordination and co-operation across all levels of Government, industry, businesses and householders… with evolution in the planning system to keep pace with Government ambitions.
Whilst Devon County Council’s planning remit is limited, it is nevertheless responsible for determining planning issues relating to mineral, waste and county council developments. It is therefore responsible for determining Aggregate Industries’ planning application for a quarry at Straitgate Farm – with its climate-busting 2.5 million mile haulage plan to process the material 23 miles away.
