Response A1345018

Response to request for information

Response date

15 April 2021

Request

Environmental Information Request re: Climate Change Emergency Declaration    

We write as part of a national research project being undertaken by universities throughout the UK and being led by the Environmental Law Foundation (ELF) exploring the work in tackling climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. The research focuses on the Climate Change Emergency Declarations made by a large number of public bodies; including district and city councils, unitary authorities and even Parliament, since 2018. We are seeking to track their development with a view to publishing the progress of public action on climate change in the lead up to COP26 in November 2021.    

We have carried out some preliminary research of the East Midlands and note that Rushcliffe Council has not yet made a Climate Emergency Declaration. However we have noted that the council has published a Carbon Management plan with the aim to be Carbon Neutral by 2030, and has reduced scope emissions by 40.2% since 2008/9. Overall the information available was detailed enough to aid our understanding of how the Council is planning to address the climate emergency, however we would appreciate more detailed information in a few areas. 

Following our initial review we would like the Council to provide the following information:    

Is there a Climate Emergency Declaration? Where is it?  
- Are there reasons that the Council has not made a Climate Change Emergency declaration? 
Any declaration of planned reductions in scope 1,2 and 3 emissions from their current level as % of total ktCO2e.   
How much ktCO2e will be offset as a percent of total current ktCO2e? Will this be direct or purchased?  Has this been audited? 
Does the Council have an adaptation policy for overheating?
In the Council's opinion is there anything that could be done at a central government level that would assist in reaching your carbon neutral target?

Will the council be looking at reviewing its investments (e.g., in pensions) and only investing in green projects?  

Additionally:

a) please confirm how many Town Councils and/or Parish Council/Community Councils in your area have made Climate Change Emergency Declarations;    

b) please provide the names and contact details of each of these     

c) please confirm how your Council collaborates with each Town Council and/or Parish Council/Community Councils    

d) please confirm which other community groups/organisations that you liaise and cooperate with that may have made a Climate Change Emergency Declaration and how your own declaration connects to any other work.    

e) please provide details of any other local community action your Council carries on to pursue any plans and commitments relating to your CCED.

Response

Is there a Climate Emergency Declaration? Where is it?  RBC did not declare.
- Are there reasons that the Council has not made a Climate Change Emergency declaration? 
- This was a member decision. At the time RBC didn’t feel in the position to declare a climate emergency given the large degree of uncertainty around how they would achieve tangible carbon-reduction actions.
Any declaration of planned reductions in scope 1,2 and 3 emissions from their current level as % of total ktCO2e. 
- We made a commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030 for its own operations. (This includes Scopes 1 and 2 and some elements of Scope 3)  
How much ktCO2e will be offset as a percent of total current ktCO2e? Will this be direct or purchased?  Has this been audited? 
- Not all avenues explored but to offset RBC’s Own Operation Carbon emissions, carbon sequestration will be used (at this time calculated at 1,724 tCO2e )
Does the Council have an adaptation policy for overheating? No
In the Council's opinion is there anything that could be done at a central government level that would assist in reaching your carbon neutral target?   
- Funding – to enable appropriate levels of staffing (with the required skillset) to be recruited.
- Realistic timescales to allow for appropriate delivery of funding projects.

Will the council be looking at reviewing its investments (e.g., in pensions) and only investing in green projects?  

Additionally:

a) please confirm how many Town Councils and/or Parish Council/Community Councils in your area have made Climate Change Emergency Declarations; 

This is something that will be picked up as an action in the CMP, as RBC continue its work to gain a greater understanding, in the first instance of its scope 3 emissions.   

b) please provide the names and contact details of each of these. Not applicable.     

c) please confirm how your Council collaborates with each Town Council and/or Parish Council/Community Councils

RCAN officer (Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire) working under an SLA agreement provides a link between RBC and the Parish/town/community councils’. RBC attend the annual parish conference and are due to speak at the June forum on Carbon.    

RBC have not made a CCED   

e) please provide details of any other local community action your Council carries on to pursue any plans and commitments relating to your CCED.

RBC have not made a CCED

FOI Responses Environment 2021