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Caerphilly Town Council has passed a motion supporting a climate change bill currently going through Westminster.
Town councillors unanimously backed the motion to support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill, which is calling for more to action to be taken to tackle climate change.
It came after Lynn Gazal and Pat Jones-Jenkins, who are members of Climate Action Caerphilly, delivered a presentation on the issue to the town councillors.
What is the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill?
The Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill has received cross-party support in Wesminster, with MPs trying to get the bill enacted in law.
It was first introduced by Green MP Caroline Lucas, and has been backed by MPs from Labour, Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party (SNP), as well as Northern Irish parties including the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Social Democrat and Labour Party (SDLP).
The bill seeks to reverse the decline in the state of nature in the UK as soon as reasonably practicable and commits to reducing the global mean temperature increase to 1.5 degrees celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.
Ms Gazal said the group was “very proud to be part of this pivotal decision”.
She added: “Generations before have risen up against difficult challenges, but none as complex and abstract a threat as climate change and never has it been more pressing to put aside our differences and work together for the greater good”.
Caerphilly Town Mayor Mike Prew, who backed the motion, said: “While the Town Council has no powers to act, passing this motion is an important declaration that, on behalf of the town residents, we believe urgent action is required to tackle a global crisis which is having a negative impact on all our lives.”
What is the difference between Caerphilly Town Council and Caerphilly County Borough Council?
Caerphilly Town Council covers the Morgan Jones ward and the St Martin’s ward.
It is separate to Caerphilly County Borough Council, which covers the entire borough.
Caerphilly Town Council, like other town and community councils in the borough, is made up of elected town councillors, who are given a budget each year to spend on projects within their area, such as Christmas lights and flower displays for example.
Cllr Prew added: “Planning is a crucial area where we can speak out and draw attention to the need for a sustainable approach that will reduce pressure on our town from major developments.
“Climate change is leading to a possible increase of 17% in rainfall over the next few decades which will increase the risks of flooding in lower parts of the Caerphilly Basin. Building more large developments adds to that risk.
“We need more housing so we need to look at how a sustainable approach to planning can mitigate against this risk”
Cllr Jamie Pritchard, who put forward the motion, said the support from the town council “sent an important signal”.
He said: “It was good to gain the support of all councillors for this important bill. If we don’t act to reduce global warming then livelihoods will be ruined, so it really is a race against time.
“Great efforts are happening locally in support of protecting our environment. We have an exciting Tiny Forest project in the process of being approved for Morgan Jones Park. Members of Climate Action Caerphilly give up a lot of their own time to work on initiatives that improve our green spaces”.
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