Rushcliffe Borough Council unanimously passed a motion last night (September 19) to further tackle climate change as an organisation. Members from across the chamber all voted at its Full Council meeting to conduct an immediate audit of its investments to ascertain the current level of fossil fuel equity investments.
It also vowed to complete an audit of its carbon footprint of its operational assets through a Carbon Reduction Work Programme and a commitment to incorporate in its environmental plans the reduction of its use and future investment in fossil fuels wherever possible. Leader Cllr Simon Robinson said the reaction of councillors to the motion reflected on the gravity of the issue that faces everyone on climate change.
He said: “We will always support environmental policies and procedures which are deliverable and will make a difference to our communities, wherever they may originate from.
“This has been in focus in the last few years with our highly successful free tree scheme, Refill Rushcliffe assisting reduction in single use plastic usage at food and drink outlets and Rushcliffe continuing to post the highest recycling rate of anywhere in the County.
“I was delighted the motion was brought to Council so all could give their views on one of the important issues we face locally, nationally and globally.
“It built on our previous successful motion brought before the Council in March that initiated a full scale review of our Carbon Management Plan which we are undertaking through our Communities Scrutiny Group and we will be reporting back to Council in 2020.
“A new corporate strategy was also passed by Council at the meeting, which has a dedicated priority that will drive forward environmentally focused projects.
“The heartfelt comments made by members of the Conservative group and across the chamber summarised the responsibility all councillors feel to intervene now to protect future generations wherever we can.”