In February 2019, we posted DCC declares ‘climate emergency’ but rejects 2030 target.
The declaration of a climate emergency is relevant to Aggregate Industries' plans to quarry Straitgate Farm – given the 2.5 million mile haulage plan the company has put forward. As we posted, After DCC’s climate emergency declaration – and "comments in the public domain about how the road trips can be justified" – Council pushes AI for further information.
However, to bring readers up-to-date, Devon County Council has now stepped up a gear:
Devon County Council will now aim to be carbon neutral by 2030https://t.co/gKPBOAM8RA— Daniel Clark (@HEDanielClark) December 10, 2019
Last Thursday’s full council meeting saw councillors unanimously back a motion put forward by Cllr Jacqi Hodgson calling for the date to be reconsidered.
The council had previously set a 2050 target date to become carbon neutral, but the Green Party councillor had called for this to be revised down to 2025.
The ruling cabinet though suggested that 2030 was the date they aim to be carbon neutral by and that through its role in the Devon Climate Emergency Response Group, encourage the Net-Zero Task Force to be ambitious in its drafting of the Devon Carbon Plan.
Leader of the council, Cllr John Hart, added: "This is the start and not the end. 2030 is an end date but it may get shortened. We are putting this out and working with experts who know what they are talking about."
Dave Black, Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment, in his report to the meeting, added: "The recommendation demonstrates the necessary local leadership to accelerate the decarbonisation of Devon, the UK and, indeed, the globe that is required to avoid the worst effects of climate change on our communities."
#devoncarbonplan discussion @PlymUni - planning process stuck on the notion of delivering the same patterns of development, but now we have a situation where we need something different from the planning policy— Devon Climate Emergency (@devonclimate) December 11, 2019
