50 signatures reached
To: Newport City Council
Declare a Climate Emergency in Newport
The United Nations has made it clear we only have until 2030 to take positive action that avoids the worst effects of climate breakdown. Westminster is failing to act. It’s up to our communities in Wales to take control of our own future. Councils across the country are declaring a climate emergency. Newport has failed to do this yet, but must be the next.
Why is this important?
All governments (UK, Wales and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of climate breakdown, and local governments that recognise this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies. It is important for the residents of Newport that our council commits to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible.
Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt around the world. Global temperatures have already increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm). This far exceeds the 350 ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity;
In order to reduce the chance of runaway global warming and limit the effects of climate breakdown, it is imperative that we as a species reduce our CO2eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes per person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible;
Individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs to change its laws, taxation, infrastructure, etc., to make low carbon living easier and the new norm;
Cities are uniquely placed to lead the world in reducing carbon emissions, as they are in many ways easier to decarbonise than rural areas – for example because of their capacity for heat networks and mass transit;
The consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are so severe that preventing this from happening must be humanity’s number one priority. Here in Newport we need to be working to protect our city from the effects of flooding that are made more severe by rising temperatures.
Bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities (as well as improved well-being for people worldwide and in Newport).
We the undersigned want to see Newport Council declare a climate emergency, and question why the council haven't declared one already giving the severity of our risk.
