Decision details

Consideration of the Petition submtted to the Chairman of the County Council on 15 October 2019

26.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport. 

26.2     The Lead Petitioner, Ms Julia Hilton, spoke about the petition, including references to a carbon reduction pathway and representatives on the Environment Board.  

DECISION

26.3     The Lead Member RESOLVED to advise the petitioners (1) that the majority of the actions requested by the petition are already being implemented/planned for by the County Council; and

(2) why the County Council has set a target for achieving carbon neutrality from its activities by 2050, but not 2030.

Reasons

26.4     The County Council did not set a target for 2030 because the Committee on Climate Change, which provides independent advice to government, concluded in May 2019 that a commitment to reaching net zero emissions earlier than 2050 is not credible.

26.5     The County Council is a partner on the East Sussex Environment Board, which has set a long term aim for the county to be carbon neutral by 2050 or earlier.  The Board includes the environmental regulators, the two universities, and representatives of land managers, farmers, local authorities and businesses.