Sheffield must be zero-carbon by 2030

5 February 2019

Sheffield Green Party councillors are demanding a clear commitment to the city being “zero carbon” by 2030 at the latest, as the world faces a “climate emergency.”

The call comes in a motion to be debated at Wednesday’s Council meeting, which asks the council to declare a “climate emergency.”

The Greens say “business as usual” is not enough and want to see the existing council target of 2050 for action on climate change being brought forward to 2030. Once this target is set, the Green councillors are calling for a detailed action plan within 6 months on the actions the Council needs to take to meet this new target.

Alison Teal, Councillor for Nether Edge and Sharrow Ward, said, “There is no issue of greater importance at present than Climate Change. Governments and industry have tried to ignore and deny the science that has alerted us to the dangers for decades.

"We have 12 short years, if we are lucky, to adapt our way of life. That's why we are calling on Sheffield City Council, and Parliament, to declare a Climate Emergency.”

Sheffield Climate Emergency Protest Councillor Martin Phipps, who is seconding the motion, said, “Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet and to our species. The recent IPCC special report on climate change warns us that we only have 12 years to avoid the worst of it. In line with this, we're calling upon the council to make a definite commitment to become a carbon neutral city ASAP by bringing forward the council's current target of 2050 to at latest 2030.

“We need to act urgently, now, and I hope the council supports our motion which calls for a timetable to be drawn up on actions we need to take to achieve our target, and as a first step swapping to a 100% renewable electricity supply.”

Councillor Douglas Johnson added, “Electricity produced by wind, solar and tidal power is absolutely critical to the country’s energy security and survival and the decision where to purchase the Council’s electricity can make a significant difference to this industry.”