This Council notes that:
Council has an opportunity to make a step change in addressing the crisis we face; progress has been slower than residents and stakeholders anticipated and monitoring and feedback less transparent than they would like.
An increase in pace and openness is needed to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. Ambition and leadership from the Council will be key to taking our community and local stakeholders with us to reach the target set in September 2020 of Net Zero by 2030.
The COP26 international conference in Glasgow left no one in any doubt about the seriousness and urgency of the situation for communities at home and abroad. Our response requires nothing short of a whole-organisation cultural change where we clearly say what we are doing and do what we say, inspiring others to act too.
Swansea Council is piloting a new initiative – the One Planet Standard, launched in time for COP26, which is designed to support organisations like ours to adjust our activities to match our environmental aspirations. Supported by the Welsh Future Generations Commissioner, Sophie Howe, the One Planet Standard could help Powys Council become resource-efficient, develop circular economic pathways with the engagement of employees, supply chains, customers and anyone affected by our activities. The One Planet Standard supports continuous improvement, with a simple Plan > Do > Check > Act virtuous cycle all set against our own goals, milestones, and time scales. At its core it is essentially an integrated reporting methodology to assist an organisation to measure, account for, and improve on, the environmental impact of its activities. The One Planet Standard would embrace the five ways of working:
Long Term – balancing short term needs with meeting long term needs.
Prevention? acting to prevent problems occurring or getting worse, using the precautionary principle.
Integration – considering how all Powys’ actions impact upon each other, upon the social and ecological goals, and upon the interests and actions of stakeholders.
Collaboration – with any other person (or different departments) that could help Powys meet its objectives and its social and ecological goals.
Involvement – involving a wide range of people in achieving its social and ecological goals, ensuring that those people are from and reflect the diversity of Powys.
Understanding and adopting the requirements of the One Planet Standard will help the Portfolio Holder for the climate and ecological emergency, and other members of the Cabinet to shape strategic direction, and the senior management team implement change, whilst helping staff shift the corporate culture. Our partners and customers will better appreciate our ambitions and choose to join us on this journey.
This Council calls for:
The reinforcing of its declaration of a climate emergency in September 2020, its divestment decision of 2018 and its pursuit of the Local Nature Recovery Action Plan which is important to reporting on Section 6 of the Biodiversity and Resilience of Ecosystems Duty.
This Council resolves to:
• Call on the cabinet member for Climate Change for a clear and visible step change in activity necessary to deliver Powys’ commitment to meet its net zero target by 2030, publishing the agreed baseline assessment and Action Plan for carbon reduction for members, stakeholders and residents to assess urgently.
• Become the second Council in Wales to pilot the One Planet Standard ahead of a decision, post May 2022, on whether to formally adopt it as a new way of working.
• Ask the Chair of Powys Pension Fund to call on the Welsh Pension Fund to use the power it has, including its influence as one of the UK’s largest pension funds, to encourage divestment as agreed in the motion of 2018.
Proposed by County Councillor Jackie Charlton
Seconded by County Councillor Jake Berriman
COST IMPLICATIONS
There are no cost implications arising from this motion as the Portfolio holder has already confirmed continuity funding for the Climate Change Officer.
The One Planet Standard is free to use, whilst accreditation costs between £675 and £1,688 according to size of organisation and award level - Bronze, Silver and Gold. Benefits, however, might be expected to include greater corporate awareness and understanding, improved staff motivation, cost savings and greater efficiency, enhance transparency and public engagement
We have already agreed as a council to achieve the Net Zero goal so all budgeting will be integrated already taking account of these measures.
The reporting on the Local Nature Recovery Action Plan is embedded in the Statutory Duty of Section 6 of the Biodiversity and Resilience of Ecosystems Duty so there will be no added cost to this measure.
The Divestment Motion of 2018 set out to achieve the third resolution which has yet to be achieved and has no cost implications.
Actions should also result in savings too.
Minutes:
County Councillor Les Skilton left the meeting at 14.29.
Council debated the following motion proposed by County Councillor Jackie Charlton and seconded by County Councillor Jake Berriman.
This Council notes that:
Council has an opportunity to make a step change in addressing the crisis we face; progress has been slower than residents and stakeholders anticipated and monitoring and feedback less transparent than they would like.
An increase in pace and openness is needed to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. Ambition and leadership from the Council will be key to taking our community and local stakeholders with us to reach the target set in September 2020 of Net Zero by 2030.
The COP26 international conference in Glasgow left no one in any doubt about the seriousness and urgency of the situation for communities at home and abroad. Our response requires nothing short of a whole-organisation cultural change where we clearly say what we are doing and do what we say, inspiring others to act too.
Swansea Council is piloting a new initiative – the One Planet Standard, launched in time for COP26, which is designed to support organisations like ours to adjust our activities to match our environmental aspirations. Supported by the Welsh Future Generations Commissioner, Sophie Howe, the One Planet Standard could help Powys Council become resource-efficient, develop circular economic pathways with the engagement of employees, supply chains, customers and anyone affected by our activities. The One Planet Standard supports continuous improvement, with a simple Plan > Do > Check > Act virtuous cycle all set against our own goals, milestones, and time scales. At its core it is essentially an integrated reporting methodology to assist an organisation to measure, account for, and improve on, the environmental impact of its activities. The One Planet Standard would embrace the five ways of working:
Long Term – balancing short term needs with meeting long term needs.
Prevention? acting to prevent problems occurring or getting worse, using the precautionary principle.
Integration – considering how all Powys’ actions impact upon each other, upon the social and ecological goals, and upon the interests and actions of stakeholders.
Collaboration – with any other person (or different departments) that could help Powys meet its objectives and its social and ecological goals.
Involvement – involving a wide range of people in achieving its social and ecological goals, ensuring that those people are from and reflect the diversity of Powys.
Understanding and adopting the requirements of the One Planet Standard will help the Portfolio Holder for the climate and ecological emergency, and other members of the Cabinet to shape strategic direction, and the senior management team implement change, whilst helping staff shift the corporate culture. Our partners and customers will better appreciate our ambitions and choose to join us on this journey.
This Council calls for:
The reinforcing of its declaration of a climate emergency in September 2020, its divestment decision of 2018 and its pursuit of the Local Nature Recovery Action Plan which is important to reporting on Section 6 of the Biodiversity and Resilience of Ecosystems Duty.
This Council resolves to:
• Call on the cabinet member for Climate Change for a clear and visible step change in activity necessary to deliver Powys’ commitment to meet its net zero target by 2030, publishing the agreed baseline assessment and Action Plan for carbon reduction for members, stakeholders and residents to assess urgently.
• Become the second Council in Wales to pilot the One Planet Standard ahead of a decision, post May 2022, on whether to formally adopt it as a new way of working.
• Ask the Chair of Powys Pension Fund to call on the Welsh Pension Fund to use the power it has, including its influence as one of the UK’s largest pension funds, to encourage divestment as agreed in the motion of 2018.
Councillor Charlton explained that the motion was to improve and strengthen the resolution passed by Council on the climate emergency. The Leader argued that the Council was moving as quickly as financial and staffing resources allowed. It was pointed out that a Climate Change Strategy had been launched at the Winter Fair and would be going out for public consultation.
The motion was put to the vote and was lost by 21 votes to 29 with one abstention.