GCC Councillors – e-mail about human-induced climate change, Sep 2018

(Update 8 Nov 2018 – No reply has yet been received from any of the councillors listed below.)

The following e-mail was sent to leaders of political groups and chairs of committees of the council following the Extraordinary Meeting on Wed 12th September about the creation of a Cabinet Member for Climate Change. (Go to webcast of the meeting.)

From Gloucestershire Climate Action Network, GlosCAN, info@gloscan.org, Fri 21 Sep 2018

Dear Councillor …………,

I am writing to ask if you could kindly look at the statement about human-induced climate change which is set out below. It is taken from our Starting Points and Aims. If you agree with it, we would like to ask if you could then kindly let us know by a simple e-mail reply.

We would like to publish on our website a list of those councillors who agree. Our intention is that this will provide encouragement and reassurance to those in the County who are particularly concerned about the danger. It will also, of course, provide information for voters, and, additionally, be a record for the future.

Our interest at this time follows the Extraordinary Meeting on Wed 12th September about the creation of a Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the the UN Secretary-General’s warning on Mon 10th that fossil fuel dependence poses a ‘direct existential threat’.

If you would like to reply we will be delighted to hear from you. A simple ‘yes’ will be more than sufficient! We don’t need any more than that.

Some councillors may like to become Supporters of GlosCAN, and we would, of course, especially welcome that.

Statement on Human-induced Climate Change, 21 Sep 2018

  • The scientific evidence for climate change resulting from human activities is beyond reasonable doubt.
  • Already, severe effects of climate change are being felt, in ways that vary greatly around the world.
  • Climate change poses risks to global food production, collective security, viability of many coastal/port cities (including Gloucester), and ultimately the functioning of major ecosystems and of human civilisation.
  • These risks will become increasingly serious in the absence of rapid and effective action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero.
  • Existing commitments by governments (including the 2015 Paris Agreement) recognise the scale of the challenge but do not create a robust mechanism to ensure that the required rapid and effective actions will be implemented.

Thank you very much for your time.

Copies of this e-mail have been sent to:

Cllr Carole Allaway Martin, Forest of Dean: Coleford, Conservative, Chairman, Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Cllr Phil Awford, Tewkesbury: Highnam, Conservative, Chairman of Planning Committee

Cllr Robert Bird, Tewkesbury: Bishop’s Cleeve, Conservative, Chairman, Environment and Communities Scrutiny Committee

Cllr Richard Boyles, Forest of Dean: Blakeney and Bream, Conservative, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People

Cllr Iain Dobie, Cheltenham: Leckhampton and Warden Hill, Liberal Democrat, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group

Cllr Andrew Gravells, Gloucester: Abbey, Conservative, Chairman of Council

Cllr Tim Harman, Cheltenham: Lansdown and Park, Conservative, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities

Cllr Mark Hawthorne MBE, Gloucester: Quedgeley, Conservative, Leader of the Council

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, Cotswold: Bourton-on-the-Water and Northleach, Liberal Democrat, Group Leader for the Liberal Democrats

Cllr Patrick Molyneux, Forest of Dean: Sedbury, Conservative, Vice-Chairman, Chairman, Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee

Cllr Nigel Moor FRTPI FRSA, Cotswold: Stow-on-the-Wold, Conservative, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning

Cllr Dave Norman MBE, Gloucester: Grange and Kingsway, Conservative, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Parking and Libraries

Cllr Brian Oosthuysen, Stroud: Rodborough, Labour & Co-operative, Chairman of Audit and Governance Committee

Cllr Brian Robinson, Forest of Dean: Mitcheldean, Conservative, Chairman, Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Cllr Vernon Smith, Tewkesbury: Tewkesbury East, Conservative, Cabinet Member for Highways and Flood

Cllr Lynden Stowe, Cotswold: Campden-Vale, Conservative, Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Growth

Cllr Ray Theodoulou, Cotswold: Fairford and Lechlade on Thames, Conservative, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Change

Cllr Kathy Williams, Gloucester: Longlevens, Conservative, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Delivery

Cllr Lesley Williams MBE, Stroud: Stonehouse, Labour & Co-operative, Group Leader for the Labour & Green Co-operative Alliance

Cllr Roger Wilson, Tewkesbury: Winchcombe and Woodmancote, Conservative, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Commissioning

 

With kind regards,
Gloucestershire Climate Action Network