Abingdon Town Council declares climate emergency
In March 2019 the town council declared a climate emergency, in common with many councils both in this country and around the world This was in response to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, published in October 2018. This report described the enormous harm that a 2°C rise is likely to cause compared to a 1.5°C rise and advised that told us that Global Warming could still be limited to 1.5°C if ambitious action was taken by national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities.
The Town Council believes that:
- All governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of Climate Change. It is important for the residents of Abingdon and the UK that councils commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible.
- The consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are so severe that preventing this from happening must be humanity’s number one priority.
- Bold climate action can also deliver economic savings and market opportunities (as well as improved well-being for people worldwide).
In addition to declaring a “Climate Emergency” the Council pledged to make the Council as carbon neutral as possible by 2030 and to do all it can to support carbon emission reduction across the town. In order to achieve this, the town council will:
- work with the District Council to determine and implement best practice methods to limit global warming to less than 1.5°C;
- continue to work with partners from local businesses, community groups and residents to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans;
- report the actions the town council will take to address this emergency;
- call on the government to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible.
The town council has an Environment and Amenities Committee and is working with interested local residents to monitor the council’s own environmental impact and to lead changes within the community. A single-use plastic policy was agreed in 2020 but was suspended due to the pandemic restrictions affecting businesses. The policy can be viewed here.
Community groups and partners
Abingdon Carbon Cutters
Abingdon Carbon Cutters (http://abingdoncarboncutters.org.uk/) is a Community Action Group working in and around Abingdon to:
- help reduce the carbon footprint of Abingdon in response to climate change;
- promote a sustainable and resilient lifestyle for our town as fossil fuel stocks decline;
- promote a range of activities consistent with the status of Abingdon as a community in Transition.
Early in July 2019 the Council was informed by at Abingdon Cuts Plastic, one of ACC’s groups, that the Town has been awarded the status of Plastic-Free by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS). This does not mean that there is no single-use plastic in Abingdon but it confirms that Abingdon has met the SAS criteria by showing that enough businesses, schools and community groups in the town have taken steps to reduce their use of plastic and that we are continuing on this journey.
Abibike
Abibike has been set up to encourage cycling in Abingdon – ‘for health, the environment and safety’. The group aims to help residents, schools and businesses. If you would like to join Abibike and help campaign for better cycle facilities and services in Abingdon please contact James Wigmore by e-mailing abibikegroup@gmail.com
One Planet Abingdon
An inspirational community hub run by volunteers, for the benefit of the people and the planet. Building resilience in a climate emergency, right in the centre of Abingdon-on-Thames.
We want to help create a One Planet Abingdon where everyone in the town is focussed on living within the earth’s resources. We want the Climate Emergency Centre to be a space where the magic happens, connecting and supporting our community to change their lifestyles and reduce their carbon footprint and enhance biodiversity whilst addressing issues of social injustice and inequality and thereby building resilience and cohesion.
Please check out the website or facebook page for details of events or how to get involved.
Working with the Community
The Town Council has taken important steps to become more environmentally friendly and the environmental impact of all our policies are reviewed regularly. A major part of this will be to engage more fully with Abingdon Carbon Cutters and other groups in the future and to work more effectively with the community in order to meet the challenges which the Climate Emergency is posing for us and future generations.
Should you wish to contact the Council regarding this work please email enquiries@abingdon.gov.uk.
