Decision details
NOTICE OF MOTION UNDER STANDING ORDER 13
Decision status: For Determination
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Decisions:
The following Notice of Motion Under Standing Order
13 was before the Council for consideration:-
Motion
Climate Emergency – Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute Council:
- Renews the commitment made by this council two years ago, in September
2019, to playing its part in the global effort to address climate
challenges, and declares a climate emergency.
- Acknowledges the United Nations’ warning of a ‘Code Red for
Humanity’ situation in relation to tackling climate change, following the
publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report
Climate Change 2021 – The Physical
Science Basis’;
- Welcomes the significant actions that the council has been taking
in recent years, highlighted in Appendix 1, to ensure that Argyll and Bute
improves even further its current positive position and low carbon
emissions levels and continues to make a significant contribution, with
our communities and partners, to fighting the critical impact of climate
change;
- Reaffirms our determination to contribute to tackling the impacts
of climate change at local, regional and national levels wherever
possible, by agreeing together today that this vital work will continue as
a priority for this council, expanding where possible and where necessary
as identified through the Action Plan and ongoing monitoring that is
already in place.
Moved by Councillor Robin Currie,
seconded by Councillor Yvonne McNeilly.
Amendment
The latest Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate change report shows that we still have time to limit warming
below 1.5ºC if we act decisively and immediately. The International Energy
Agency’s last report supported the halting of all new oil and gas exploration,
something the Strathclyde Pension Fund (SPF) is currently funding. The
Strathclyde Pension Fund, which represents 12 Local Authorities including
Argyll and Bute Council, currently invests over £508 million in fossil fuel
companies such as BP and Shell, which are still exploring for new oil
fields.
Fossil Fuel divestment is a
practical, legal and responsible way for pension funds to respond to climate
change and avoid financial risk. Although the SPF has agreed to assess the
climate credentials of its investments, it is important that they set strict
enough criteria and work to a timescale which reflects the urgency of the
crisis.
Council therefore agrees to
request the trustees of the SPF (Strathclyde Pension Fund) divest from any investments in fossil fuels which have
warmed the planet already to 1.1°C
above pre industrial levels.
Council agrees with the view
held by the movement Time for Change that we have a “Climate
Emergency” which needs urgent political action on a global scale to return us to a safe operating space within our
planetary boundaries. In declaring a Climate Emergency we will be joining
over 230 local authorities in recognising the immediacy and severity of the
crisis and holding ourselves accountable for implementing a scientific pathway
to limit warming to less than 1.5ºC.
Council agrees to write to the
UK and Scottish Government’s in these terms urging them to take immediate
action to tackle this grave issue and do all within
their power to return us to a pathway of less than 1.5ºC warming.
Moved by Councillor Philand,
seconded by Councillor Moffat.
As the meeting was being held on a virtual basis
the vote required to be taken by calling the Roll and Members voted as follows
–
Motion |
Amendment |
Councillor
Anderson |
Councillor Freeman |
Councillor Armour |
Councillor Moffat |
Councillor Blair |
Councillor Philand |
Councillor Colville |
|
Councillor Currie |
|
Councillor Devon |
|
Councillor Douglas |
|
Councillor Findlay |
|
Councillor Forrest |
|
Councillor Good |
|
Councillor Green |
|
Councillor Hardie |
|
Councillor Horn |
|
Councillor Kinniburgh |
|
Councillor Lynch |
|
Councillor MacMillan BEM |
|
Councillor McCabe |
|
Councillor McKenzie |
|
Councillor McNeilly |
|
Councillor Morton |
|
Councillor Mulvaney |
|
Councillor Paterson |
|
Councillor Penfold |
|
Councillor Redman |
|
Councillor Reid |
|
Councillor Robertson |
|
Councillor Taylor |
|
Councillor Trail |
|
Councillor Vennard |
|
Decision
The
Motion was carried by 29 votes to 3 and became the finding of the Council.
Publication date: 04/10/2021
Date of decision: 30/09/2021
Decided at meeting: 30/09/2021 - Argyll and Bute Council
Accompanying Documents: