Cautious Welcome to Climate Emergency commitment

South Gloucestershire’s Liberal Democrat Opposition Group has offered a cautious welcome to the Cabinet’s decision to adopt a wide-ranging plan of action to respond to the Climate Emergency.

This report follows a motion passed by the Council last year, proposed by the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Cllr Claire Young, declaring a Climate Emergency and committing the Council to taking action.

Following this a cross party group was set up, co-chaired by Liberal Democrat Cllr Louise Harris, to set out the actions the Council needed to take.

Responding to South Gloucestershire Council Cabinet’s decision to adopt the majority of the group’s recommendations, Cllr Claire Young said,

“While the Conservative Leader of Council is saying all the right things, we hope the administration is wholeheartedly committed to this initiative.

“We welcome the recommendations that have been adopted today. It is disappointing that the Conservative Cabinet has not adopted all the recommendations of the cross-party task and finish group, which was set up to give the Council a clear plan for its immediate response to the Climate Emergency.

“Tackling the Climate Emergency must, along with responding to the current Covid-19 pandemic, be at the top of the Council’s list of priorities.

“We will continue to hold this Conservative administration to account and ensure that the Climate Emergency is met with more than just warm words.”