Climate Emergency - Staffordshire Moorlands

We call upon Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to:

1. To declare a climate emergency.
2. With partners across the district and region, to start working towards making Staffordshire Moorlands carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account emissions from both production and consumption .
3. To call on the UK Government to provide guidance and the powers and resources to make carbon neutrality possible by writing to local MPs, the Secretaries of State for Business Energy & Industrial Strategy, Transport, Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Housing, Communities & Local Government.
4. To develop a Carbon Neutrality and Climate Resilience Plan, starting from July 2019, with a cross party working group and the necessary officer support to assist with investigative work, drafting the plan and the delivery of early projects.
5. To report to Full Council before the end of 2019 with costed proposals for projects for the Council to effectively start addressing the climate emergency, which could include:
a) Enabling more cycling, walking and use of shared and public transport.
b) Providing electric car charging points in car parks and other suitable locations, including for use by council tenants and council vehicles.
c) Adopting high energy efficiency standards and providing for the effective use of recycling services in new buildings through the planning system.
d) Demonstrating and developing a programme for retrofitting high standards of energy saving and insulation in existing council buildings, including housing, and assets; initially focusing on where the greatest benefits could be gained.
e) Promoting waste reduction, reuse and recycling on the go, and supporting community projects. Promoting sustainable products for use in council premises and for use by contractors.
f) Sourcing electricity used by the council from renewable energy suppliers and providing support for smart energy infrastructure, including demand management and storage.
g) Supporting green businesses and social enterprises.
h) Review of planning policies and investment opportunities for local renewable energy and infrastructure and environmental markets, as well as divestment from fossil fuels.
i) Adaptation for flooding and other impacts of climate change.
j) The appointment of a specialist officer to develop and champion the delivery of the Carbon Neutrality and Climate Resilience Plan.
6. To provide an annual review and update of the plan thereafter.