Harrogate Borough Council swam against the tide in 2019 when it refused to declare a “Climate Emergency” — instead opting for a carbon reduction strategy that sets out how the authority aims to cut emissions over the next two decades.
But with the UK government saying a green-based recovery will be key to how we bounce back from Covid-19, the opposition Liberal Democrats are again putting pressure on HBC to make the pledge — but would it amount to anything meaningful?
What does declaring a “Climate Emergency” mean?
“Climate Emergency” was the Oxford English Dictionary word of last year and over two-thirds of all UK councils have now made the declaration.
It comes from the green movement created by Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion and the pledge has been used as a line in the sand for organisations wanting to improve their environmental footprint.
It’s largely a symbolic gesture but councils have declared climate emergencies to drive environmental policy and give some green momentum to issues from housing, energy and education.
Climate emergencies have been declared across the political spectrum, including by 42 Conservative district authorities, but it has meant different things in different places.
For example, as part of the Conservative-led Gloucester City Council’s declaration, they aim to use 100% renewable energy across the council’s operations by 2030.
The Labour-led Warwick District Council included a pledge to build all new council homes to the UK Green Building Council definition net zero carbon buildings, which is housebuilding to the strictest environmental standards
Some councils including Bath and North Somerset, even have a cabinet member for climate emergency who has a specific brief to drive the agenda.
A political manoeuvre?
In 2019 the Liberal Democrats tabled a motion to HBC calling on them to declare a climate emergency, which was knocked back by Conservative council leader Richard Cooper.
As reported at the time by the BBC’s Local Democracy Service, he suggested the motion was a political manoeuvre.
He said:
“We shouldn’t actually be voting on whether there is a climate emergency or not. To have a vote is to say climate change is a matter of opinion – it is not, it is a fact.”
Instead, HBC set up what it boldly called the “most radical environmental manifesto put forward by a borough council ever”, including a carbon reduction strategy that aims to make Harrogate a net-zero carbon economy by 2038. This means Harrogate would balance the number of greenhouse gases emitted with the equivalent emissions that are offset.
Harrogate’s Climate Coalition was also created that brings together councillors as well as green groups and local businesses with the aim of working together in the name of sustainability and helping the environment.
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Progress so far
Last month, environmental campaigner Malcolm Margolis quit Harrogate’s Climate Coalition, citing a “lack of action” around sustainable travel.
ClientEarth, the environmental lawyers who beat the UK government in court over illegal levels of air pollution in 2015, say climate action at a local level can “transform” people’s quality of life.
But they warned councils they need to be bold and not wait for policy from central government.
ClientEarth climate lawyer Sam Hunter Jones said:
“There is a collective failure by local authorities across England to plan adequately for climate change. Too often climate change is perceived to be just a national or international issue and therefore solely the responsibility of central government.”
According to the local Liberal Democrats at Harrogate’s current rate of reducing CO2 emissions, it is way off reaching its 2038 target for net-zero and would struggle to achieve it by 2050.
Lib Dem Cllr Pat Marsh said she has written to Conservative cabinet member for sustainable transport, Cllr Phil Ireland, calling on HBC to declare a climate emergency and improve the way the Climate Change Coalition is run.
Cllr Marsh said:
“To effectively play our part in addressing this environmental crisis, it is imperative that we declare a Climate Emergency and commit to becoming net zero carbon by 2030 at the very latest.”
Caroline Linford set up the green group Sustainably Harrogate and told the Stray Ferret that it’s essential HBC makes the pledge.
She said:
“It’s essential that HBC understand the likely impact of the changing climate on the Harrogate district, as well as explore practical solutions which are available to them. I believe declaring a Climate Emergency would focus the council on this mission and help engage the wider public to take the action.”
A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:
Environmental campaigner quits Harrogate Climate Coalition“As agreed by the council in the Notice of Motion last year, the council supports measures to address the climate emergency as outlined by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
“Our carbon reduction strategy outlines an action plan for a number of priorities with an overall vision of having net-zero carbon emissions by 2038. Further information is available on our website.
“We have also launched the Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition, a group of businesses, public sector organisations and voluntary groups, which promotes and implements carbon reduction activities throughout the Harrogate district.”
Environmental campaigner Malcolm Margolis has resigned from the Harrogate Climate Coalition because of a “lack of action” around climate change.
The group was formed at the beginning of this year after Harrogate Borough Council rejected calls to declare a climate emergency in 2019.
It brings together councillors as well as green groups and local businesses — with the aim of working together in the name of sustainability and helping the environment.
Mr Margolis was a member of the Coalition’s sustainable transport subgroup that was set up to look at cycling lanes and how to get people out of cars.
Mr Margolis said he wanted to group to be “not just another talking shop”.
He said:
“The Climate Coalition was set up in recognition of environmental emergency – but it doesn’t feel there’s a sense of urgency if you don’t have meetings for months.
“The environental emergency is an infinitly more serious problem than Covid-19. It’s absolutely central that we act with urgency. The scientists are telling us we need to act now.
“Cllr Haslam said he wants the group to bring about small quick wins that can make a difference at a local level – but if nothing happens for two months then you’re not going to have any quick wins.”
Speaking to the Stray Ferret, the chair of the subgroup Cllr Paul Haslam said the Climate Coalition was a “great leap forward” for the environment in the district but conceded that action hasn’t been as fast as he would have liked.
He said:
“I agree fully with Malcolm that people haven’t seen anything yet.
Cllr Haslam said after the second meeting of the group, it became clear the members wanted to be “more than just a talking shop — they wanted it to be effective”.
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Cllr Haslam said he has had meetings with senior figures in North Yorkshire County Council and has presented them with “every single idea” that the Climate Coalition has come up with.
The group will meet again next week.
He added:
“I want to get us into positions so we are effective, so we don’t just generate the ideas but they get through so we can make changes quicker.”