Somerset Council

The Council resolved: Declaration of an Ecological Emergency 1. That in addition to the work already underway, it will take on the responsibility as Lead Partner in the delivery of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) (this has already been agreed with Natural England), with partners in the established Local Nature Partnership and deliver a Strategy with a set of clear actions to bring about a reversal of the negative impacts on the natural environment and biodiversity and to develop strategies to mitigate against the possibility of further decline or damage on the habitats, flora and fauna of Somerset.2. To incorporate the details of the Ecological Emergency, the desired Item No. Title outcomes and any identified actions, including those within the LNRS into the next iteration of the Climate Emergency Strategy. 3. To ensure “tackling the climate and nature emergencies” policies are at the heart of everything this council does and is embedded it into all Council decision making processes. 4. To add ecological impact implications assessment alongside those for climate and sustainability in committee and council reports. 5. In collaboration with the 4 District Councils, the Council will use existing and emerging planning policy and development management to ensure biodiversity is improved, environments enriched and the destruction of habitats is resisted when development occurs. 6. Work similarly with the 4 Districts Councils to develop the Councils response to the phosphates issue affecting the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar site catchment area. 7. That Somerset County Council is already ranked by Climate emergency UK as the UK’s top County Council in tackling climate change and recognised the work done by County Council in recent years to achieve this. 8. To encourage residents, businesses and landowners to reduce pesticide use, and seek to become a pesticide-free council. 9. To encourage residents, businesses and landowners to eliminate peat use, and seek to become a peat-free council. 10. To work with emerging government guidance and across the Planning System with the Planning Authorities to develop the Council’s approach and policies around the Ecological Emergency and will implement, measure and monitor the Biodiversity net gain approach in order to maximise the benefits from development.

— Full Council (Source)