Climate emergency declaration

Over 120 councils in Britain have declared a climate emergency. Such a declaration is a public acknowledgement that the serious impacts of climate change present a clear and present threat to our world. 

At Full Council on Thursday 7 December 2023 Runnymede Borough Council resolved to declare a climate emergency, which means it will use its reasonable endeavours to continue its work to meet the Council’s target of net zero operational emissions by 2030, and to use its sphere of influence to support the Borough and its communities to achieve the 2050 national net zero target for the UK.

Accordingly, Runnymede Borough Council recognises that:

• The consequences of global temperatures rising above 1.5 degree Celsius are so severe that preventing this from happening must be humanity’s priority.
• All governments (national, regional and local) have an obligation to limit the negative impacts of increasing global temperatures and biodiversity loss.
• It is important that all organisations commit to becoming operationally net zero, as soon as reasonably possible, subject to their resources and financial constraints which may apply to them.
• Bold action to mitigate against climate change can deliver improved personal, social and environmental well-being for people locally and world-wide. 

View the committee report related to the Council’s climate emergency declaration, first presented at the Environment and Sustainability on 16 November 2023 below:

 Implications of Climate Change for Runnymede Borough Council Report November 2023

Read the Council’s Climate Change Strategy which sets the roadmap for the Council to reduce its carbon emissions.