Councillors in West Devon have backed proposals aimed at tackling climate change but stopped short of supporting the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (CEE) currently going through parliament. 

Cllr Lynn Daniel (Green, South Tawton) proposed that the council should support the CEE in line with the council’s formal recognition of the climate and biodiversity emergency (May 2019) and the Devon Climate Declaration (July 2019).

Putting forward the motion at the council meeting on Tuesday, Cllr Daniel asked her council colleagues to support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill, inform the local media of their decision, write to local MPs asking them to support the bill and write to the CEE Bill Alliance, who have proposed this legislation, in support.

The CEE Bill is being proposed by a coalition of politicians, scientists, academics and lawyers to bring the UK’s climate policy into line with evolving scientific evidence.

However several Conservative councillors spoke against supporting it, saying that while they backed action on climate change they were opposed to the CEE Bill proposing decisions be made by a Citizens Assembly.Council leader Cllr Neil Jory (Con, Milton Ford) put forward an amendment removing all reference to the CEE Bill and acknowledging work that WDBC had already done. 

The amended motion read: 'This council supports the need for a strong legislative framework that embeds the Government’s targets in law, enabling us as supportive players to plan and develop our future trajectories to fit in with those targets.

Council therefore resolves to support the Government’s Environmental Bill 2021 and the Climate Change Act 2008 as amended in 2019, inform the local media of their decision, write to local MPs asking them to support the environment bill and continue to support Devon County Council through the Devon Climate Emergency Partnership.

The motion, passed by a substantial majority, removes any obligation on the council to work with other groups towards making the CEE Bill into law. 

As part of existing plans, the council has already pledged to reduce its own carbon emissions, continue to work with partners, including the Devon Climate Emergency Response Group, Plymouth City Council and West Devon Borough Council and to increase biodiversity by 10 per cent in its green and wooded public habitats by 2025.

Critics are likely suggest the motion passed by the council lacks urgency but supporters will highlight the commitment demonstrated by West Devon Borough Council so far.