Argyll and Bute Council has pledged to continue to play its part in the ongoing battle against climate change – declaring a climate emergency.
The council’s administration and SNP opposition group unanimously backed a motion on the subject by council leader Robin Currie on Thursday.
It pledged to renew the council’s commitment to tackling climate change, and to acknowledge the United Nations’ warning of a ‘Code Red for Humanity’ situation on climate change.
It also reaffirmed the authority’s determination to contribute to battling the impacts of climate change at local, regional and national levels.
Cardross Climate Action Network, and Cardross Community Council, had previously endorsed an amendment submitted to the authority by Cllr Douglas Philand, calling for greater action.
But Jean Moffat and George Freeman were the only two other councillors to vote for the amendment.
In moving the motion, Cllr Currie told the meeting: “Four years ago, the council agreed the administration’s priorities for the life of the council. Greener and cleaner communities was one of the key things in the overall vision, backed up by subsequent investment in the years to follow.
“In September 2019, the full council meeting saw the admin bring forward a motion on concerns relating to climate change, setting out actions that the council would take.
“We recognised back then the growing concerns about climate emergency and put in place the climate change action group for strategic activity to play our part in battling climate change.
“The work of that group has been reported and you can see just some of the achievements this council has made in contributing to the global effort.
“We must keep going – we have no choice; the world has no choice and the situation demands it.
“As we have recognised before and do so again, it is an emergency, and that is why I bring this motion today, as the world turns its attention to Scotland, to Glasgow, for the summit in November.”
Cllr Philand said in response: “There is no dispute on what the council has done and the important thing is to acknowledge that. It is nothing against what Cllr Currie has said.
“Previously we have worked closely with colleagues in terms of climate change. It takes into account what we have done as a council, but people with expertise in climate change wish us to go further.
“The latest inter-governmental panel on climate change reports that we still have time if we act decisively and immediately.
“The Strathclyde Pension Fund, which represents 12 local authorities, invests millions in fossil fuels.”
A vote was then held between the motion and the amendment, with the motion winning yb an overwhelming margin.
Has anything altered the climate change so far?