Agenda item

NOTICE OF MOTION - NATURE CRISIS

That this Council:-

 

Notes we are in the middle of a nature crisis. Almost half of all UK wildlife is in long term decline and 15% of species are at risk of extinction. The climate crisis is only hastening this destruction of the natural environment, damaging habitats and disrupting ecosystems. Yet it is these very habitats that have the potential to lock up carbon and fight back against rising global temperatures. It is essential that we not only protect these spaces, but let them thrive – for the benefit of people, planet and nature. We recognise that the terms Nature, Ecological and Biodiversity can be and are often used interchangeably by people and, for the purpose of this motion, all mean the same thing.

 

Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta’s review into The Economics of Biodiversity, commissioned by Her Majesty’s Treasury, highlighted that humanity does not exist in isolation from nature but sits within it. Nature is an asset on which all aspects of our society depends and with biodiversity declining faster than at any time in human history, we are undermining the productivity, resilience and adaptability that nature lends our society.

 

As we recover from the Covid-19 crisis, the need for nature-rich green spaces where we live and work is clearer than ever and will help health, education and the economy build back stronger. We recognise that the Climate and Nature emergencies are intrinsically linked with each other and also to social justice; and by building a better world to deal with the Climate and Nature Crises we will also be building a better society. We recognise that action must be taken now to remedy this and to put nature into recovery at a local level, not only to benefit Rotherham, but in support of regional, national and international work to do the same.

 

This Council therefore notes and recognises that:

 

a)               Nature is in long term decline and urgent action must be taken to reverse this

b)               A thriving natural environment underpins a healthy, prosperous society

c)                The nature and the climate crises are intrinsically linked and that the impacts of the  climate crisis drive nature’s decline, while restoring nature can help to tackle the climate crisis.

d)               Local people and groups have recognised the issues and have declared a Nature Crisis for Rotherham themselves and call on the Council to do so too. 

 

This Council resolves to:

 

1.    Declare a Nature Crisis for Rotherham.

2.    Ask the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board to consider commissioning a review into how the Council can support improvements to ensure a more natural environment is enhanced.

3.    Ensure our responsiveness on tackling climate change is extended to be complimentary to this separate but well aligned cause.

4.    Continue to further our work on enhancing biodiversity by adopting innovative approaches to support wild flowered areas and ecological approaches to grounds maintenance.

5.    Note the ongoing significant progress the Council is making through its Climate Change Action Plans for a carbon neutral Council by 2030 and Borough by 2040.

 

Mover – Councillor Havard                                    Seconder – Councillor Beck

 

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Havard and seconded by Councillor Beck:

 

That this Council:-

 

Notes we are in the middle of a nature crisis. Almost half of all UK wildlife is in long term decline and 15% of species are at risk of extinction. The climate crisis is only hastening this destruction of the natural environment, damaging habitats and disrupting ecosystems. Yet it is these very habitats that have the potential to lock up carbon and fight back against rising global temperatures. It is essential that we not only protect these spaces, but let them thrive – for the benefit of people, planet and nature. We recognise that the terms Nature, Ecological and Biodiversity can be and are often used interchangeably by people and, for the purpose of this motion, all mean the same thing.

 

Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta’s review into The Economics of Biodiversity, commissioned by Her Majesty’s Treasury, highlighted that humanity does not exist in isolation from nature but sits within it. Nature is an asset on which all aspects of our society depends and with biodiversity declining faster than at any time in human history, we are undermining the productivity, resilience and adaptability that nature lends our society.

 

As we recover from the Covid-19 crisis, the need for nature-rich green spaces where we live and work is clearer than ever and will help health, education and the economy build back stronger. We recognise that the Climate and Nature emergencies are intrinsically linked with each other and also to social justice; and by building a better world to deal with the Climate and Nature Crises we will also be building a better society. We recognise that action must be taken now to remedy this and to put nature into recovery at a local level, not only to benefit Rotherham, but in support of regional, national and international work to do the same.

 

This Council therefore notes and recognises that:

 

a)      Nature is in long term decline and urgent action must be taken to reverse this

 

b)      A thriving natural environment underpins a healthy, prosperous society

 

c)      The nature and the climate crises are intrinsically linked and that the impacts of the  climate crisis drive nature’s decline, while restoring nature can help to tackle the climate crisis.

 

d)      Local people and groups have recognised the issues and have declared a Nature Crisis for Rotherham themselves and call on the Council to do so too.


This Council resolves to:

 

1.             Declare a Nature Crisis for Rotherham.

 

2.             Ask the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board to consider commissioning a review into how the Council can support improvements to ensure a more natural environment is enhanced.

 

3.             Ensure our responsiveness on tackling climate change was extended to be complimentary to this separate but well aligned cause.

 

4.             Continue to further our work on enhancing biodiversity by adopting innovative approaches to support wild flowered areas and ecological approaches to grounds maintenance.

 

5.             Note the ongoing significant progress the Council is making through its Climate Change Action Plans for a carbon neutral Council by 2030 and Borough by 2040.

 

An amendment to the motion from the Liberal Democrat Group had been received. It was moved by Councillor Tarmey and seconded by Councillor A. Carter that the motion be amended as follows:-

 

That this Council:-

 

Notes we are in the middle of a nature crisis. Almost half of all UK wildlife is in  long term decline and 15% of species are at risk of extinction. The climate crisis is only hastening this destruction of the natural environment, damaging habitats and disrupting ecosystems. Yet it is these very habitats that have the potential to lock up carbon and fight back against rising global temperatures. It is essential that we not only protect these spaces, but let them thrive – for the benefit of people, planet and nature. We recognise that the terms Nature, Ecology and Biodiversity can be and are often used interchangeably by people and, for the purpose of this motion, all mean the same thing.

 

Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta’s review into The Economics of Biodiversity, commissioned by Her Majesty’s Treasury, highlighted that humanity does not exist in isolation from nature but sits within it. Nature is an asset on which all aspects of our society depends and with biodiversity declining faster than at any time in human history, we are undermining the productivity, resilience and adaptability that nature lends our society.

 

[Insert] Bees and other pollinators play an essential role in the Earth’s ecosystem being vital for our food crops, gardens, and countryside. Eighty percent of all crops reproduce as a result of the intervention of pollinators. The Government has estimated that this intervention is worth approximately £500 million to the UK food economy alone. The number of bees and other pollinator species has been in decline for many years. Substantial scientific evidence exists to attribute this decline to the use of insecticides (such as neonicotinoids), climate change and habitat destruction. Several herbicides in common use (for example, glyphosate) have also been shown to impact biodiversity and may pose a risk to human health.

Every river in England is now polluted beyond legal limits and this pollution is mostly caused by sewerage discharge and the run-off of nutrients from farms. 36% of English rivers have been damaged by water companies. Government funding to the Environment agency to monitor river quality and hold water companies to account has dropped 75% in recent years.

 

As we recover from the Covid-19 crisis, the need for nature-rich green spaces where we live and work is clearer than ever and will help health, education and the economy build back stronger. We recognise that the Climate and Nature emergencies are intrinsically linked with each other and also to social justice; and by building a better world to deal with the Climate and Nature Crises we will also be building a better society. We recognise that action must be taken now to remedy this and to put nature into recovery at a local level, not only to benefit Rotherham, but in support of regional, national and international work to do the same.

 

This Council therefore notes and recognises that:

 

a)   Nature is in long term decline and urgent action must be taken to reverse this

 

b)   A thriving natural environment underpins a healthy, prosperous society

 

c)   The nature and the climate crises are intrinsically linked and that the impacts of the climate crisis drive nature’s decline, while restoring nature can help to tackle the climate crisis.

 

d)   Local people and groups have recognised the issues and have declared a Nature Crisis for Rotherham themselves and call on the Council to do so too.

 

[insert] e) A recent decision by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in granting exemptions for the use of a neonicotinoid pesticide in the UK may have a significant impact on bee populations.

 

[insert] f) That there are technologies available to improve carbon sequestration, reduce flooding risk and improve biodiversity in our local communities.

This Council resolves to:

 

1.   Declare a Nature Crisis for Rotherham.

2.   Ask the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board to consider commissioning a review into how the Council can support improvements to ensure a more natural environment is enhanced.

 

3.   Ensure our responsiveness on tackling climate change was extended to be complimentary to this separate but well aligned cause.

4.   Continue to further our work on enhancing biodiversity by adopting innovative approaches to support wild flowered areas, [insert] increase planting of pollinator-friendly plants (for example, blossom producing spring-flowering trees)and ecological approaches to grounds maintenance.

 

[insert] 5. Develop a plan to reduce the use of glyphosate based herbicides on all land that it manages, except where necessary in the control of Schedule 9 plants (under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981), or to prevent damage to council assets.

 

6.   Trial the use of pesticide-free alternatives in the management of council owned land (as used by other local authorities).

 

5.7Note the ongoing significant progress the Council is making through its Climate Change Action Plans for a carbon neutral Council by 2030 and Borough by 2040.

 

[insert] 7 8 Write to the secretary of state for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, calling on the government to fund research into the effects of neonicotinoids and glyphosate on the environment and human health.

 

9.   Write to the chief executives of Yorkshire Water and Severn Trent Water calling for urgent action to address the impact of waste-water discharges on our local rivers.

 

On being put to the vote, the amendment was lost. However, the Leader agreed to:

 

-         Write to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, calling on the Government to fund research into the effects of neonicotinoids and glyphosate on the environment and human health.

 

-         Write to the chief executives of Yorkshire Water and Severn Trent Water calling for urgent action to address the impact of waste-water discharges on our local rivers.

 

On being put to the vote, the motion as submitted was declared as carried by majority.