Climate change emergency declared in Shropshire

Shropshire Council has declared a climate change emergency – but hasn’t set a date for when it aims to become carbon neutral.

Dozens of protesters from Extinction Rebellion gathered outside Shirehall before full council on Thursday to call on the authority to do all it can to become carbon neutral.

Members discussed the issue for more than two hours before a motion tabled by the Lib Dem group and amended by portfolio holder Dean Carroll was accepted.

It means the council has now declared a climate change emergency, it will attach carbon emission appraisals to all policy reports; leader Peter Nutting will write to the secretary of state for the environment to aim for carbon neutrality by 2030; and draw up a climate change action plan.

Councillor Alan Mosley, leader of the Labour group on the council, tabled a motion calling for the council to be carbon neutral by 2030.

But this was defeated by 37 votes to 23, after council leader Peter Nutting said he did not want to put pressure on the authority by adding in a target date.

Councillor Nutting said: “This council is doing so much to tackle climate change from housing to road repairs to recycling to transport.

“We are making so much progress but what I do not want to do is put undue pressure and targets on us by setting dates that are even more ambitious than those suggested by scientists.”

But Councillor Mosley said: “This is a man who wanted to look at bringing an airport here remember.”

Councillor Julian Dean, leader of the Green Party on Shropshire Council, said quick action was needed.

He said: “If you are not frightened, you are not paying attention. I want to thank the youngsters for coming out today.

“There are opportunities now. If we get it right we can make a difference. We can do rapid transitions. We have to.”

But not all councillors were convinced by the claims.

Councillor Ed Bird, member for Shifnal, said he did not believe the situation was as bad as feared.

“Like many things I don’t think climate change is as bad as is being made out,” he said.

“We are debating a petition which was signed by 1,000 people, what about the other 499,000 in the county?

“It’s like Brexit; things can be different to what you first think.”

But Councillor Kevin Pardy hit back saying: “If you think there are 500,000 people in Shropshire you are very wrong.

“If you are so wrong about that, you can be so wrong about other things.”

The protest outside Shirehall, attended by roughly 100 people, heard from Lib Dem Councillor Andy Boddington, who thanked so many people for coming along to a “boring” council meeting and also 17-year-old Belle Lewis, who made a plea for people to help reduce C02.

She said: “I am 17 and I am here because I am scared of the future.

“I’m here because C02 levels have become higher than ever before in the course of human history.”