Neath Port Talbot Council has declared a climate emergency. The motion, put forward by Green Party member Nathan Goldup-John was approved by members following a meeting on Wednesday, September 28. Councillors noted that residents had already experienced the effects of extreme weather through recent flooding and heatwaves.
They also heard how the impacts of climate change were being felt across the globe, with species of plants, animals and coral reefs becoming extinct in record numbers, as well as the threat of sea level rise caused by the melting of polar ice sheets.
A climate emergency is defined as a situation in which urgent action is needed to reduce climate change, to avoid potentially irreversible environmental damage resulting from it. The decision from Neath Port Talbot follows other councils in Wales who have also declared a climate emergency in recent years, such as Blaenau Gwent and Swansea, as well as the Welsh Government’s ambition for the public sector in Wales to be carbon neutral by 2030.
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Cllr Goldup-John said: "We have seen harrowing floods in my home town Skewen, though also through the borough in Aberdulais, Ystalyfera and Port Talbot to name a few. Record-breaking heatwaves in July of this year added additional pressure on local residents and devastated in storms which has resulted in enhanced regional focus on sea defence works through the borough.
"The doorstep effects of climate change are detrimental to the residents of Neath Port Talbot and it's time we demand change, not just for our generation but our children, our grand-children and all those who follow."
Having declared a climate emergency, members recognised that society needs to change things like laws, taxation and infrastructure, to make low carbon living easier and the new norm. The council will now call upon the UK government to do the same, committing to a number of actions as seen below. They are:
- Call upon the UK and Welsh governments to provide us with the necessary powers and resources to ensure Neath Port Talbot becomes carbon neutral by 2030.
- Publicise climate emergency and promote a greater awareness of the truth of climate change amongst the local population.
- Work with relevant experts in research and development to: a. Review our current strategies and action plans for addressing climate change. b. Identify any further policy changes or actions which we could undertake, within the scope of our powers and resources, to meet the challenge of climate emergency. c. Seek the help of local partners and other research bodies to explain to the community work already under way and achievements already made, as well as targets for the future.
- Update on further work undertaken by the council in this area on an annual basis through the Council Annual Review of Performance Report section on corporate objective - Our local environment, culture and heritage can be enjoyed by future generations. You can read more of our stories from Neath Port Talbot here, or subscribe to our weekly dedicated newsletter here.
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