To: Bath & North East Somerset Council
BANES Council: Support the Climate & Ecological Emergency Bill
We are joining with the Climate and Ecological Emergency Alliance to demand action from our councillors. The CEE Bill is a draft law which has been introduced to Parliament and already has the support of 100 MPs. The Bill would ensure the UK Government plays its fair and proper role in limiting global warming to the 1.5°C recommended by scientists. BANES declared a climate emergency in March 2019 and an ecological emergency in July 2020. Now we are calling on the council to declare its support for the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill, and urge North East Somerset MP Jacob Rees-Mogg to join Bath MP Wera Hobhouse in supporting the bill.
Why is this important?
The UK Government’s target is to be carbon neutral by 2050. But this is too late, because the world is set to exceed the dangerous limit of 1.5°C warming by 2040, causing irreversible harm and costing millions of lives. In fact, Government advisers say the UK is not on track to meet its own target.
The CEE Bill would ensure the Government takes action to reduce carbon emissions now, and counts emissions from aviation, shipping and international trade for the first time. It would also ensure it does not rely on unproven technologies such as carbon capture and geoengineering in its calculations.
It would protect UK biodiversity and ecosystems and ensure companies and individuals are held responsible for environmental damage in the UK and overseas. A Citizens’ Assembly would be set up to advise on the Government’s emergency strategy.
