Local authorities in Bristol are set to advance the city’s carbon neutrality target forward by 20 years (to 2030) after declaring a climate emergency.
The motion, tabled by the Greens calling on the Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees to take action, received cross-party support.
It was inspired by the recent IPCC report which warned that humanity has 12 years to take emergency action in order to prevent global warming greater than 1.5°C, which would have severe consequences. We are currently on track for 3°C of warming.
“This is a fantastic day for Bristol and I’m delighted the Council will be bringing forward its target for carbon neutrality to 2030. 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 12 years to act – we have to show how it’s done and commit to ambitious action at the level of cities, which we did this evening,” said the Bristol Green Party Councilor Carla Denyer.
“We feel hugely inspired to hear about this Green victory in Bristol to speed up efforts to tackle climate change. There is no time to waste and actions such as these must become a catalyst for more ambitious efforts at a local, national and European level. We congratulate our Green colleagues in Bristol – nominated European Green Capital in 2015 – on this brilliant victory that will have an impact on all of our lives, near and far,” added the European Green Party co-chairs Reinhard Bütikofer and Monica Frassoni.
