Council orders action plan on emissions
DONCASTER Council looks set to sign up for a campaign to cut its greehouse gas emissions by 10 per cent next year.
The borough's councillors have backed a motion calling on the authority to sign up for the 10/10 Campaign.
Coun Mark Thompson, the council's cabinet member for environmental issues said today he had commissioned an action plan which would look at initiatives to reduce the council's carbon footprint.
Coun Thompson, who is cabinet member for environment, waste disposal and recycling, added the council was already engaged in meeting carbon emission reductions under the 2008 Climate Change Act.
He said: "I have commissioned officers to provide an action plan to deliver both the compliance with the CRC energy efficiency scheme and the 10/10 initiative."
In the motion, passed yesterday, Mayor Peter Davies was asked to work out the council's current energy use and prepare an action plan to cut it back next year. Proposing the motion, Coun Edwin Simpson said Doncaster had seen the effects of climate change with the floods of 2007 which saw Toll Bar particularly badly hit. He said such issues were becoming more frequent than in the past.
He said the public sector should take a lead in dealing with emissions. He said: Think of the floods happening every five to 10 years. We came close to it happening in 2001. Warmer air carries more moisture, leading to more rain."
Challenged by Coun Jonathan Wood on what he was doing himself to reduce his carbon footprint, Coun Simpson admitted he had driven to Doncaster for the council meeting, but said he and his wife had given up their second car and were growing more of their own fruit and vegetables to reduce food miles produce.
Coun Garth Oxby raised concerns about the development of land in areas including parts of Rossington and Balby which he feared was affecting drainage and would cause problems.
He called for better use to be made of the council's vans to reduce mileage.
Elected mayor Mr Davies did not comment during the debate, but has previously stated he does agree with what he describes as the "quasi religious belief" of the main climate change lobby.
He has said he accepted climate change was taking place but added not everyone agreed why.
At a meeting earlier in the year he said: "I have already been sent three books by respected scientists...who clearly set out the faults in the global warming argument."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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