Extinction Rebellion stage silent protest at full council meeting

Two members of climate activist group Extinction Rebellion Rochdale staged a silent protest at the most recent full council meeting on Wednesday 15 December.

Reverend Mark Coleman and Jane Touil held placards up during the meeting, reading “Off target for net zero by 2028” and “Not on track to stay within carbon budget.”

The council’s latest draft climate strategy – submitted to the Climate Emergency Scrutiny Study Group earlier this month – shows the borough is not on track with carbon emissions reduction – and will not achieve the council’s goal of net-zero by 2038 even if its most ambitious prediction is realised.

Protestor Jane said: “I’m really worried about this. Since declaring a climate emergency in July 2019 the council’s plan for tackling it is still in draft form and the draft admits that much more radical action is needed.

“The strategy says carbon emissions should be coming down by 13% a year but we are way off that at the moment. If we carry on like this, we will soon use up the carbon budget that is supposed to get us to 2038. This is happening all over the country. The climate emergency is getting worse and if we don’t get a grip, it will soon be too late.

“This stuff matters; it’s life and death!”

Page 28 of the document says: “Our 2038 projection is based on us taking maximum action, which includes undertaking tree-planting to increase current coverage by 30% by 2030 and a further increase of 20% from 2030-2050; 100% of new-build properties being built to passivhaus standard from 2021; a 27% reduction in energy demand for our homes; a 22% reduction in road freight; and the average modal share of cars, vans and motorbikes decreasing from the current national average of 74% total miles to 38%. Even with all this activity we would not achieve net zero but we would reduce emissions by 52.5%.’

It goes on to say: “To achieve net zero we must go even further and stay within our carbon budget. It involves fundamentally changing how we live, work, develop and play. The longer we delay making progress in tackling our emissions, the greater the difficulty of achieving ambitions on Climate Change. The period up to 2025 is absolutely critical to accelerating a reduction in rates.”

“I agree,” added Jane. “There is no time left for delay. The council has a fundamental duty to protect residents. A failure on climate action is a failure in that duty.”

The Council Climate Change Strategy and Delivery Plan 2021-2025 shows gaps in vital sectors where emissions need to come down fast if it is to reach the target of net zero by 2038. These sectors are domestic, industry, commercial, and public sector.

Worryingly, emissions in the transport sector have increased in the last five years – despite the pandemic.

Sir David King, the government's own recently retired chief scientist, has said that we have three to four years in which to turn things around.

Rev Coleman said: “Do they know what emergency means?

“If your house is on fire, you get people out of it – and quick!

“We elect our politicians to keep us safe and do all they can so that we and our children have a future. Why is there no plan and no strategy on how to get there?” 

Responding, Councillor Sara Rowbotham, deputy leader and cabinet member for Climate Change at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The climate change strategy and plan requires action by all partners, stakeholders and residents if we are going to reach carbon neutrality by 2038.

“I am fully aware that we are currently not forecast to meet our target but the council contributes less than five per cent of the borough’s total CO2 emissions so we need much wider change across all sectors of our local economy and society.

“We are being open and transparent about what needs to be done but there is no magic wand and we'll need to continually review progress and if necessary set out new proposals.

“We will ensure everyone has the opportunity to contribute their views and suggestions. It is a huge challenge for the borough and will require an enormous effort by everybody.

“I appreciate Extinction Rebellion wish to draw attention to the scale of the climate emergency and the magnitude of the task but what we now need is positive contributions to how we can all achieve the target together.”

Rochdale Council declared a climate emergency on 17 July 2019. Its strategy and action plan has to be presented to the cabinet for approval before coming to the full council.

 

Read more: Rochdale Council commits to making the borough carbon-neutral by 2038Published: 23 July 2019

 

Extinction Rebellion Rochdale presented an anniversary card in the summer of 2021 to remind the council that it had been two years since the anniversary of the declaration of a climate emergency. 

 

Read more: Climate emergency 'birthday card' presented to councillorsPublished: 22 July 2021