Nature Archives - Huntingdonshire Green Party

St Neots Town Council pass motion declaring an Ecology Emergency, put forward by Green Councillors

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 10:45:14 +0000

Greens called for St Neots Town Council to Declare an Ecology Emergency.

A motion from Green Councillors calling on St Neots Town Council to declare an Ecology Emergency was passed at a Full Council meeting on Tuesday (25th October) with a commitment to reverse and restore nature in the town by 2030. The motion, submitted by Councillor Daniel Laycock, who wanted to see biodiversity increased within the town as the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Above this, more than one in seven of our plants and animals face extinction, and more than 40% are in decline. The motion text notes nature is declining faster than at any previous time and urgent action must be taken to reverse this trend, that a thriving natural environment underpins a healthy, prosperous society and argues that the nature and climate crises are intrinsically linked, and we cannot tackle one without taking action on the other. It asks the Town Council to declare a Ecology Emergency and pledge to make ensure nature’s recovery is embedded at the heart of all strategic plans, policy areas and decision-making processes. The motion calls on the Environment and Emergency Committee, Chaired by Cllr Daniel Laycock submits a report to Full Council setting out options to develop and agree on an evidence-based strategy and action plan to tackle the ecological emergency and report on the progress made to report back on the actions that will be taken to address the emergency. However, the motion was amended by Cllr Pitt and Cllr Chapman to be deferred to the Environment and Emergency Committee for it to be “flushed out” in policy. Green Councillor Daniel Laycock said: “This is a fantastic day for our ecosystem and biodiversity and I’m delighted the Council will be working to ensure we restore nature. The IPCC report made it clear that time to preserve Earth as we know it is running out. We can’t wait for the UN or national governments to negotiate when we have just 7 years to act – we have to show how it’s done and commit to ambitious action at the level of the town, which we did this evening. “I’m grateful to my colleague Cllr Catherine Goodman, who supported me in bringing this motion to council and leading others in the right direction, to those councillors who saw the importance of taking action in support of this motion. Green Councillor Catherine Goodman, who seconded the motion, said she was overjoyed by the outcome and added: “The next step is to ensure that Tuesday’s evening’s Full Council commitments are followed by ambitious action. Over the coming years, Greens will continue to hold the Council to account on today’s decision. We know that this is a big commitment for the town and to meet this target an awareness of biodiversity will have to factor into every decision the Council takes. We look forward to the Environment and Emergency Committee reporting back to the Full Council on what action will be taken.” Background: Actions that the Council could take might include involving nature’s recovery is embedded at the heart of all strategic plans, policy areas and decision-making processes in every decision the Council takes, connect to the St Neots Climate Action Plan, and with the creation of a Biodiversity Action Plan for St Neots Town Council, as well as linking to Cambridgeshire-level plans.. Some of the key points were:

Call on the Council and Environment and Emergency Committee to ensure nature’s recovery is embedded at the heart of all strategic plans, policy areas and decision-making processes.
Request that the Environment and Emergency Committee submits a report to Full Council setting out options to develop and agree on an evidence-based strategy and action plan to tackle the ecological emergency and report on the progress made (with recommendation from the Environment and Emergency Committee to employ a Climate Officer; subject to costs and job role going back to the next E&E committee meeting), to sit alongside and connect to the St Neots Climate Action Plan, and with the creation of a Biodiversity Action Plan for St Neots Town Council, as well as linking to Cambridgeshire-level plans.
The action plan must include ambitious targets and strategic goals to restore nature in St Neots, such as:
- Committing to protect land owned or managed by the Town Council for nature by 2030, in line with national and international commitments to biodiversity[1].
- Ensuring everyone living in St Neots has doorstep access to nature
Commit to tackling the climate and ecological emergencies together by investing in local nature-based solutions to climate change.
- A commitment to annually report on progress on the action plan to the Environment and Emergency Committee and Full Council. Work with local communities and organisations to achieve nature’s recovery, particularly engaging with disadvantaged and underrepresented groups in St Neots.

1 Copy of Motion

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What is an ecological emergency?

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 16:29:40 +0000

Human activities are producing carbon dioxide and other gases to cause rapid climate change. This fast change of climate is likely to have significant effect on ecology in many way eg warmer temperatures suit different species forcing species to move or die out.^q

We are affecting the environment in many other ways, causing an Ecological Emergency including loss of biodiversity. In 2019, UN scientists said that “Nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history – and the rate of species extinctions is accelerating, with grave impacts on people around the world now likely”ᵃ. Discarded plastic and other pollution along with over-use of herbicides and pesticides are damaging us and the environment and reducing biodiversity across land and sea. The 2016 UK State of Nature suggests that the UK is among the most nature-depleted countries in the world, and the 2017 State of UK Birds reports, for example, farmland bird numbers reducing by more than half since 1970.

Solutions to these problems must be led by governments eg by implementing the UN “Aichi” biodiversity strategy with the help of businesses and individuals, with the aim of “living in harmony with nature” by 2050. Action has been taken in the past eg on eliminating CFCs that produced the hole in the ozone layer ᵐ and in the UK by banning plastic microbeads ⁿ. More significant action is now needed: collectively we need to ensure we live within our ecological means and minimise our impact on the environment. Action on climate change and the ecological emergency will improve our lives and save the planet.

The 2050 UN target date seems far away. However action needs to be taken now to start us moving in the right direction.

Climate change is a major driver of ecological stress and extinction. “Climate change can alter where species live, how they interact, and the timing of biological events, which could fundamentally transform current ecosystems and food webs. Climate change can overwhelm the capacity of ecosystems to mitigate extreme events and disturbance, such as wildfires, floods, and drought. Mountain and arctic ecosystems and species are particularly sensitive to climate change. Projected warming could greatly increase the rate of species extinctions, especially in sensitive regions.”^q

In May 2019 a comprehensive report ᵃ from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) said that “Nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history – and the rate of species extinctions is accelerating, with grave impacts on people around the world now likely”. The drivers of this change are “(1) changes in land and sea use; (2) direct exploitation of organisms; (3) climate change; (4) pollution and (5) invasive alien species”. The report finds that around 1 million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction, many within decades, more than ever before in human history.

Plastic pollution has increased tenfold since 1980ᵃ with microplastics now found everywhere on land and in the sea.ᵇ

Chemicals such as fertiliser ammonia degrade the biochemistry of soil and natural ecosystems.ᶜ

Herbicides and pesticides destroy natural ecosystems and natural protection mechanisms, with run-off polluting water courses.ᵈ

The State of Nature report in 2016 ᵉ suggests that the UK is among the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Since 1970, 40% of species showed strong or moderate declines, while 29% showed similar increases. 15% [of endangered species] are now extinct or threatened with extinction. Policy-driven agricultural change was by far the most significant driver of declines.

The 2017 State of the UK’s Birds report says that farmland birds have reduced by more than half since 1970 and, for example, the Curlew has declined by 65% over the same period.ᶠ

Over-use of natural resources have reduced fish and animal populations dramatically while elimination of predators upsets the balance of nature ᵍ. UN trade and development body UNCTAD says that “90% of fish stocks are used up” ʰ ⁱ. An area of Amazon rainforest roughly the size of a football pitch is now being cleared every single minute ʲ. The UK is 30-40 years away from ‘eradication of soil fertility’ ᵏ. Alien species invasions are a growing pressure on the natural world, which are extremely difficult to reverse.ᵒ We rely on a narrow genetic pool of crops and animals, and wild relatives with more genetic diversity are under threat.ᵖ

The Anthropocene is the proposed name for the current geological epoch, indicating the growing human influence on land use, ecosystems, biodiversity, and species extinction.ˡ

UN Convention on Biological Diversity

The UN Convention on Biological Diversity set Aichi Biodiversity Targets for the period 2011-2020. The overall vision is “Living in harmony with nature” where “By 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people.” The strategic goals are:

Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society
Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use
To improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity
Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services
Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity building

These need to be taken forward for the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework.

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