Are we in an emergency?
It would seem so as the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments have all made Climate Emergency Declarations recently.
Alongside these, dozens and dozens of local councils of all shapes and flavours across the UK have done likewise - and more are jumping on board every week.
Some of the Declarations have their own nuances and variations but the majority are looking to become carbon neutral by 2030.
It is difficult to get exact and up to date figures but these two lists get pretty close :
It is definitely better for councils to make such declarations than not but the proof of the pudding really is going to be what comes next.
I wrote in my post yesterday about the 'progress' in my local council. Don't hold your breath...
The powers that councils have to actually make significant changes do of course vary significantly between the different levels of local government.
At the top of the tree in England are the six metropolitan counties, such as Greater Manchester and West Midlands, who have major powers affecting large populations (1.2 million plus). London is counted separately.
Outside of the metropolitan counties are the 28 County Councils (eg Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire) and the 55 Unitary Authorities (eg Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Central Bedfordshire).
The Metropolitan Counties are divided, at the next tier of local government, into 36 Metropolitan Boroughs.
Likewise the County Councils and Unitary Authorities are divided into 256 Non-Metropolitan Districts.
Wales has a different system of 22 'Principle Areas'. Scotland is separate altogether.
According to the Climate Emergency website 67 first and second tier councils, out of a total of around 400, have so far made Climate Emergency Declarations.
Of these 67, 47 have set a target to be carbon neutral by 2030, 13 have not yet set a target date and 7 are aiming for zero carbon by 2050.
For those that are going for the 2030 target (including my own local town council) this is going to be a significant challenge.
I haven't yet seen any detailed action plans but I am going to be keen to read them when they start to appear.
For those councils at the level of having control over public transport, schools and significant public housing stock the options are greater.
Those councils with lesser powers will have to be creative and use more carrot than stick.
The other big issue is the timeline - 2030 is not that far away.
Councils with all their protocols and procedures are not fast moving bodies.
Most councils will only have full meetings 11 or 12 times a year. That gives them a little more than a hundred meetings to consult, to report back, to plan, to modify, to resolve, to budget, to act, to modify, to monitor, to audit, to evaluate...
I am going to be very keen to follow progress.
Local councils are only part of the global equation of climate change actions. There are national governments and global bodies that have to kick in with the really heavy lifting.
And there is business who will need to be cajoled and convinced to play their part.
Finally there is you, and me, and our next door neighbours. And all the ordinary citizens at every level of humanity.
From those at the top of the wealth scale who most likely do most of the damage, knowingly or otherwise, to those at the bottom who will suffer the effects whether they like it or not.
The world faces a challenge.
Some will dispute the use of the word 'emergency'.
For me personally, if it attracts massive attention and generates urgent action, I am quite happy to stick a flashing blue light on it.
[ image from pixabay.com ]
