Cambridge Extinction Rebellion say "There were no new targets and no new policies. An existing “aspiration” for zero carbon by 2050 remains. This is far too late. The council promised to widely publicise this state of emergency, a concession to our demands.The feeling overall was that the council displayed a lack of political courage.Politics-as-usual will not suffice in the face of an emergency. The fight goes on, as we knew it would."
So
To Councillor Rosy Moore, Executive Councillor for Environmental Services
Dear Ms. Moore
Congratulations for proposing and approving the Climate Emergency declaration on
the 21st. Feb.
I am concerned that the councils motion is to respond to this emergency by
promising that it "Will continue" with its current actions and will establish a
Cambridge Climate Charter which is a repeat of its actions in 2009.
I am also concerned that the motion is complacent in its self congratulations
for being on target of a 20% reduction in emissions by 2021, a trajectory that
merely follows the trend since 2015 and only touches "net zero" after 2042 if
the council can continue to make reduction at that rate. The IPCC says we must
reach this target by 2035 if we have any hope of avoiding catastrophic climate
change. [In reality, after you have exhausted the low hanging fruit, you may be
pressed to make reductions of 20% of the last five year plan (not the 2015
figure). The exponential decline could result in the council only reach 33% of
its target.]
At the same time, your strategy seems only to be concerned with projects which
have a real financial payback time, and therefore should be seen primarily as
good management.
I am also concerned that your concept of carbon reduction is only concerned with
direct emissions. Can you say when the council will become concerned with:
The impact of continued growth in the city and the Greater Cambridge area
The impact of the embodied carbon in the materials to deliver the significant
infrastructure projects proposed by the Greater Cambridge partnership and CIP.
and how these will be considered in your "Net Zero" aspiration.
I look forward to your comments.
Best wishes, Andy
--
"If I knew the world was to end tomorrow, I would still plant an apple tree today."
attributed to Martin Luther (1483-1546)
1 comment:
Added on 26th March
Perhaps you might also consider the role of Scope 3 ("out sourced") emissions in your definition of carbon reduction.
I read in the local paper of plans for
another 5,000 homes on Milton sewage works site;
proposals for a bus way/metro serving both existing but also potential new developments;
consultation on a new rail link to Bedford and Oxford with potential for one million new homes on the route, a proportion of those in the grater Cambridge area.
These new development, the building work and new business will significantly increase the Scope 3 emissions for Cambridge City and the surrounding area.
The council has a policy for significant growth agenda. How will the Climate Emergency modify these plans?
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