Huntingdonshire District Council

"RESOLVED(a) that the Climate Crisis and Ecological Emergency be formally recognised;(b) that the Council’s Climate Strategy in response to the Climate Emergency be adopted;(c) that the initial Climate Action Plan, with annual refresh in conjunction with our communities, businesses and partners through the Climate Conversation, be adopted; and(d) that progress be reported annually to Overview and Scrutiny, with more frequent collaboration with the Overview and Scrutiny Climate Working Group."Climate Strategy Report for Full Council, item 61"Climate Objectives:We will achieve our vision to respond to the climate crisis and ecological emergency by: [..]Demonstrating that we consider environmental impact in all policymaking and our stewardship of council assets and resources""The strategic priorities for enabling and encouraging positive action are: REVIEW AND RENEW THE LOCAL PLAN - supporting the response to the climate crisis and ecological emergency MORE BIODIVERSITY – implementing environmentally positive land management to increase the natural capture of carbon through changedland management regimes and tree canopy enlargement that also increases biodiversity in response to the ecological emergency.""5.18 Following an enquiry from Councillor Gardener, the Panel were advised that climate and environmental goals would be considered in all Councilreports going forward. The way this is presented will continue to evolve to enable Councillors to make informed decisions.""5.3 [..] The Panel also heard that, once approved, the priorities of the Climate Strategy would be incorporated into all Council activities to ensure that any impact on the climate is considered""The Council will be a positive example responding to the ecological emergency by delivering increased biodiversity across its own and managed land:• Management of amenity grass for the benefit of nature and carbon capture• Developing and implementing plans across parks and open spaces (in addition to Countryside Sites), with our communities, to increase the tree canopy and biodiversity. This will include supporting others to do the same."https://democracy.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/moderngov/documents/s125879/Climate%20Strategy%20Report%20for%20Full%20Council.pdfClimate Strategy Appendix 1 - Climate Strategy, item 61"Our response to the climate and ecological emergency will be embedded into every action taken and each decision made by this council."https://democracy.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/moderngov/documents/s126039/Climate%20Strategy%20Appendix%201%20-%20Climate%20Strategy.pdfClimate Strategy Appendix 2 - Climate Strategy on a Page, item 61"Include climate and biodiversity in our impact assessments to ensure they are embedded in our decision making"https://democracy.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/moderngov/documents/s126040/Climate%20Strategy%20Appendix%202%20-%20Climate%20Strategy%20on%20a%20Page.pdfClimate Strategy Appendix 5 - Action Plan, item 61 => contains nothing on ecological / recov* / restor*; no useful mention of nature / biodiversity; no mention of embedding ecol. considerations in policies etc.; no mention of *30*"Include climate considerations within all key strategies and governance documents""Implement impact assessments for all key decisions to ensure climate implications are considered"https://www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/media/6912/climate-strategy-action-plan.pdfand (same points apply)https://democracy.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/moderngov/documents/s126078/Climate%20Strategy%20Appendix%205%20-%20Action%20Plan.pdf

— Full Council (Source)