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Agenda item

Notice of Motion 1

Proposed by Councillor Derbyshire

Seconded by Councillor Henshaw

This Council Notes   

That the World is already warming at an alarming rate leading to more extreme weather conditions. 

The ‘Special Report on Global Warming of At a 1.5ºC warmer world, 6% of insects 8% of plants and 8% of vertebrates would be lost; increasing to 18%, 16% and 8% respectively at 2ºC warmer. 

        Approximately 4% of the global terrestrial land area is projected to undergo a transformation of ecosystems from one type to another at 1°C of global warming, with 13% at 2°C.

        Biodiversity-related factors such as forest fires, extreme weather events and the spread of invasive species, pests and diseases also need to be taken into account. Many of those are already happening.

The latest State of Nature report published by RSPB and other partners in 2019 found that: 

        Of 3,902 species assessed in Wales, 666 (17%) are threatened with extinction from Wales, and another 73 (2%) have gone extinct already. 

        The average abundance of butterflies (33 species) has declined in Wales by 52% since 1976.  

This Council further notes: 

 

That Biodiversity was raised as an issue within the Council’s decision to declare a Climate Emergency and forms a key part of our One Planet strategy.

 

The recommendations from the Environmental Scrutiny Committees exercise ‘Managing Biodiversity in Cardiff’, resulted in the Council accepting a wide range of recommendations aimed at protecting, enhancing, and promoting biodiversity.

 

The wide range of actions being undertaken as part of the council's Biodiversity and Resilience of Ecosystems Duty {BRED} Forward Plan, which will be updated in 2022.

 

That bold action to protect and enhance the biodiversity of Cardiff can deliver benefits in terms of wellbeing, in new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities.  

 

The exciting new Coed Caerdydd project and that Cardiff Council has committed to working with partners to become a National Park City.

 

This Council therefore resolves to: 

1.           Declare a Nature Emergency in Cardiff.

2.           Place biodiversity with equal prominence to climate change at the heart of decision making in Cardiff Council.

3.           Make representations to the Welsh and UK Governments, as appropriate; to provide the necessary powers, resources and technical support to local authorities in Wales to help them successfully achieve this aim.

4.           Continue to work with partners across the county, region and nationally to develop and implement best practice methods that can protect Wales’ biodiversity. Including seeking a joint approach with neighbouring authorities.

5.           Work with local stakeholders including Councillors, residents, young people, businesses and other relevant parties, to develop a strategy aligned with One Planet and Coed Caerdydd with a target of no net loss of biodiversity. This will also explore ways to maximise the local benefits of these actions in other sectors such as employment, health, agriculture, transport and the economy.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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