MAY 1 2019 - UK Parliament declares a Climate Emergency, following climate protests across Britain. Meantime in South America and Russia the forest fires are burning, with more in Canada and Europe.

BBC NEWS 28 APRIL 2019 - NICOLA STURGEON DECLARES CLIMATE EMERGENCY AT SNP CONFERENCE

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has declared a "climate emergency" in her speech to the SNP conference.

The SNP leader told delegates in Edinburgh she was inspired after meeting young climate campaigners who had gone on strike from school.

Ms Sturgeon said "they are right", and pledged to "live up to our responsibility" to halt climate change.

She also announced what she described as the SNP's "biggest campaign on the economics of independence".

Labour is expected to press the UK government to declare a national climate emergency on Wednesday.

The party will call for a dramatic cut in the UK's carbon emissions, with leader Jeremy Corbyn also calling for a UK-wide ban on fracking.

Fracking has already been halted in Scotland by Ms Sturgeon's devolved government.

It comes after weeks of strikes by school pupils and protests by Extinction Rebellion protestors, which have targeted both the UK and Scottish parliaments.

Ms Sturgeon told the conference that Scotland is a "world leader" on climate change, and is already committed to being carbon neutral by 2050.

She pledged that the country would continue to "lead by example" as our obligations to the next generation are "the most important we carry".

The first minister said: "A few weeks ago, I met some of the young climate change campaigners who've gone on strike from school to raise awareness of their cause.

"They want governments around the world to declare a climate emergency. They say that's what the science tells us. And they are right.

"So today, as first minister of Scotland, I am declaring that there is a climate emergency. And Scotland will live up to our responsibility to tackle it."

The Committee on Climate Change is due to publish new scientific advice on Scotland's emissions targets this week.

And Ms Sturgeon made clear that "if that advice says we can go further or go faster, we will do so".

SNP MSPs - along with those from the Tories, Labour and the Lib Dems - voted down a Scottish Parliament motion put forward by the Greens calling for a "climate emergency" to be declared on 27 March, after disputing the impact of the oil and gas industry.

Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said in that debate that climate change was an "urgent" matter, but that the government a duty to respond "responsibly" and "keep Scotland's lights on".

Dozens of towns and cities across the UK have already declared "a climate emergency".

There is no single definition of what that means but many local areas say they want to be carbon-neutral by 2030.

Some councils have promised to introduce electric car hubs or build sustainable homes to try to achieve that goal.

It's a much more ambitious target than the UK government's, which is to reduce carbon emissions by 80% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2050.

Scotland is committed to being carbon neutral by 2050.

Ms Sturgeon's conference speech came just days after she announced that she wants a second referendum on Scottish independence by 2021 if the UK leaves the EU.

The UK government has already said it will not grant the permission that Ms Sturgeon says is needed before a referendum is actually held.

But she told party members that a "surge" in support for Scottish independence could force Westminster to change its stance.

Ms Sturgeon said this would demonstrate that "no Westminster government can ever stand in the way of Scotland's right to choose".

Mss Sturgeon said it was wrong to view Scotland as "No voters or Yes voters". Wrong to consider fellow Scots as "Remainers or Leavers".

In a modern version of Jock Tamson's Bairns, she told delegates that they should view even those who are critical of the SNP as fellow citizens.

Perhaps especially those who are critical of the SNP. Nationalists, she said, should make their case with "decency, respect and dignity".

So far, so familiar. But there is more to this than the customary appeal for humane politics. This is also about strategy.

SNP strategists look at the contemporary condition of politics. Febrile, brittle, divided. Fragmented by Brexit chaos.

They have concluded that, in such circumstances, it will not do to be too overtly partisan, even about the issue which motivates the SNP - independence.

You can only win a referendum if you get 50% of the vote plus one. That, for the SNP, means taking along with you people who are not currently convinced.

Ms Sturgeon also announced a leaflet would be sent to every home in Scotland as part of the "biggest campaign on the economics of independence in our party's history".

In addition, she revealed the SNP would create a social justice and fairness commission, which she said would "set out how the proceeds of economic growth in an independent Scotland can be shared much more fairly".

The first minister predicted: "If we can now show what is possible with the economic powers of independence, we will win a referendum."

She also revealed Scottish Parliament legislation that could pave the way for a referendum will be introduced in May.

The aim would be to pass it by the end of the year, she said, so it is in place should the UK government ultimately agree to a referendum being held.

The first minister also described how her plans for a Citizens' Assembly would allow people from across Scotland to "guide the conversation" about independence.

BBC NEWS UK PARLIAMENT DECLARES CLIMATE EMERGENCY MAY 1 2019

MPs have approved a motion to declare an environment and climate emergency.

This proposal, which demonstrates the will of the Commons on the issue but does not legally compel the government to act, was approved without a vote.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who tabled the motion, said it was "a huge step forward".

Environment Secretary Michael Gove acknowledged there was a climate "emergency" but did not back Labour's demands to declare one.

The declaration of an emergency was one of the key demands put to the government by environmental activist group Extinction Rebellion, in a series of protests over recent weeks.

Addressing climate protesters from the top of a fire engine in Parliament Square earlier, Mr Corbyn said: "This can set off a wave of action from parliaments and governments around the globe.

"We pledge to work as closely as possible with countries that are serious about ending the climate catastrophe and make clear to US President Donald Trump that he cannot ignore international agreements and action on the climate crisis." 

Dozens of towns and cities across the UK have already declared "a climate emergency".

There is no single definition of what that means but many local areas say they want to be carbon-neutral by 2030.

Some councils have promised to introduce electric car hubs or build sustainable homes to try to achieve that goal.

It's a much more ambitious target than the UK government's, which is to reduce carbon emissions by 80% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2050.

Labour's motion also calls on the government to aim to achieve net-zero emissions before 2050 and for ministers to outline urgent proposals to restore the UK's natural environment and deliver a "zero waste economy" within the next six months.

The Welsh and Scottish governments have both already declared a climate emergency, along with dozens of towns and cities, including Manchester and London.

NUSRAT GHANI & ROY GALLEY WEALDEN CONSERVATIVES

We wonder if the UK will now start building affordable housing units that are sustainable in terms of climate change? A local resident has written to Wealden's MP and James Brokenshire, the Secretary of State for planning, for answers to this question, proposing forcing councils to use their powers of compulsory purchase to buy land to provide affordable plots for self-builds.

THE GUARDIAN THURSDAY 11 JANUARY 2018 - Theresa May has said her government is serious about improving the environment after pressure groups gave a lukewarm response to a 25-year green plan, praising its ambition but warning that it lacked sufficient proposals for immediate action. May’s proposals were also criticised by Jeremy Corbyn, who said her pledge to stop all avoidable plastic waste by 2042 was “far too long” to take action - and that may prove to be the case, but let us give her the benefit of the doubt for a while so that we can see some action, or not.  What that could mean is that they want to appease the electorate and pass the problem onto the next generation - but - the whole point of taking action now is to try and stop the fish that we eat, eating the plastic in Marine Litter.

s.

A TO Z OF COUNCILS DECLARING A CLIMATE EMERGENCY @ SEPTEMBER 2019

MEDIA LINKS & REFERENCE

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/ards-and-north-down/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/bath-north-east-somerset/

https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/bedford-borough-council-declares-climate-emergency/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/birmingham/

https://bradford.moderngov.co.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=10277

phantom.brighton-hove.gov.uk/Published/Item5501GrnGrpClimateChange.docA

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/14/bristol-plans-to-become-carbon-neutral-by-2030

https://democracy.caerphilly.gov.uk/documents/s29081/NOM%20Covering%20Report.pdf?LLL=0

https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/nweb/COUNCIL.minutes_pkg.view_doc?p_ID=55294&p_Type=A

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/cambridge-city-council/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/cardiff/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/carlisle/

http://democracy.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=155&MId=2178&Ver=4

democracy.cheltenham.gov.uk/documents/Notice-of-Motion-18th-Feb-2019-Council

http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=49515

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/cornwall-council-declares-climate-emergency-2458146

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/cotswold/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/derby

https://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/images/1_-_Council_Minutes_30-05-19.pdf

democracy.devon.gov.uk/documents/g2791/Public%20minutes%2021st-Feb-2019%2014.15%20Council

dorsetecho.co.uk/news/council-declares-climate-emergency-after-morning-protests-outside-south-walks-house

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/17453013.durham-county-council-sets-climate-emissions-targets/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/london-borough-of-ealing/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/edinburgh/

http://www.theforestreview.co.uk/article.cfm?id=115707

http://democracy.gateshead.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=9364

http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/Agenda.asp?meetingid=16032

https://democracy.cyngor.gwynedd.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=130&MId=2457&Ver=4

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/london-borough-of-haringey/

councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/documents/Notices-Motion-Council20March2019

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/highland/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/london-borough-of-hounslow/

https://cmis.hullcc.gov.uk/CMIS/Document.ashx

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/london-borough-of-islington/

https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=49578

examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/kirklees-council-declares-climate-emergency

lambeth.greenparty.org.uk/2019/01/23/declare-climate-emergency-borough-co2-emissions-target-forward-2030

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/lancaster_climate_emergency/

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/climate-emergency-declared-leeds-council-16041131

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/climate-emergency-been-declared-leicester-2479136

politics.leics.gov.uk/documents/Decisions%20Wednesday%2015-May-2019%2014.00%20County%20Council

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/london-borough-of-lewisham/

https://www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/climate-emergency-declared-for-liverpool-city-region/

https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/assembly/call-on-mayor-to-declare-climate-emergency

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/maidstone/

https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=4160

somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/17460096.mendip-district-council-declares-a-climate-emergency

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/mid-devon/

https://milton-keynes.cmis.uk.com/milton-keynes/Document.ashx

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/mole-valley/

https://democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=143&MId=3758&Ver=4

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/moray/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/newcastle-upon-tyne/

https://moderngov.newcastle-staffs.gov.uk/documents/s26384/Minutes%20of%20Previous%20Meeting.pdf

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/london-borough-of-newham/

http://www.northamptonboroughcouncil.com/councillors/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=242&MId=8990

https://democracy.north-herts.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=136&MId=2206&Ver=4

northnorfolknews.co.uk/news/north-norfolk-district-council-declare-climate-change-emergency

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/north-lanarkshire/

http://apps.n-somerset.gov.uk/cairo/docs/doc29442.htm

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/northamptonshire/

http://committeedocs.northumberland.gov.uk/MeetingDocs/42500_M9487.pdf

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/norwich-city-council/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/nottingham-city-council-resolve-to-go-carbon-neutral-by-2028/

http://www.orkney.gov.uk/OIC-News/Council-declares-climate-emergency.htm

oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/17393068.climate-emergency-in-oxford-as-council-rejects-expressway-plans/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/oxfordshire/

http://mgenglish.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=285&MId=4343&Ver=4&LLL=0

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/plymouth/

https://democracy.portsmouth.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=146&MId=3739&Ver=4

preston.moderngov.co.uk/documents/FINA-Cll-henshaw-climate-change

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/reading/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/london-borough-of-redbridge/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/redcar-cleveland/

https://democracy.rushcliffe.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=145&MId=186&Ver=4

yorkshirecoastradio.com/news/local-news/scarborough-borough-council-declares-climate-emergency

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/isles-of-scilly/

http://democracy.sheffield.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=18587

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/shropshire-2/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/somerset/

https://wiveygp.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/swt-climate-emergency-motion-final.pdf

nwemail.co.uk/news/activists-applauded-bosses-south-lakeland-district-council-climate-change-emergency

democratic.southoxon.gov.uk/documents//Printed-minutes11-Apr-20192018Council

modgov.southsomerset.gov.uk/documents/Decisions21st-May-2019SouthSomersetDistrictCouncil

www.southwarknews.co.uk/council-declares-climate-emergency-and-commits-to-go-carbon-neutral-by-2030

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/stevenage/

https://www.stroud.gov.uk/media/970811/agenda-13-december-2018.pdf

https://www.eadt.co.uk/business/councillors-in-suffolk-vote-to-become-carbon-neutral-1-5952434

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/sunderland/

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/carbon-neutral-2025-target-pledge-2779348

https://www.threerivers.gov.uk/egcl-page/council-minutes

eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/tower-hamlets-council-to-become-carbon-neutral-by-2025

https://democratic.trafford.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=2681&Ver=4

http://democratic.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=29023

http://mg.wakefield.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=221&MId=13948&Ver=4

https://democracy.walthamforest.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=32233

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/warrington/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/warwick/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/welwyn-hatfield/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/west-devon/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/west-dunbartonshire/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/sussex/

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/wiltshire-council/

democracy.winchester.gov.uk/documents/g2058/Decisions%2005th-Jun-2019%2009.30%20Cabinet

http://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/wyre-forest/

yorkmix.com/life/york-declares-climate-emergency-after-impassioned-pleas-by-young-activists

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48126677

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48117738

https://ejfoundation.org/news-media/2019/uk-declares-climate-emergency-now-it-needs-to-act-like-were-in-one

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-48077802