Supporting the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill

Watford Borough Council declared a climate emergency in July 2019 and committed to becoming a climate neutral council by 2030, since taking actions including: establishing a sustainability forum to work with key communities and businesses in the borough; working to provide alternative and sustainable modes of transport for residents; leading by example to reduce waste in the council and the borough more generally; creating biodiversity in council-owned assets.


Council notes that:

  • 1. The CEE Bill Alliance, made up of scientists, lawyers and activists, tabled a Private Members Bill in Parliament.

    (a) The bill has the potential to become the most significant move forward since the Climate Change Act 2008;

    (b) 88 MPs have so far supported the bill, with co-sponsors from across the political spectrum including Labour, Liberal Democrat and Greens;

    (c) The bill sets an emergency path for the UK to follow, including the creation of a Citizens’ Assembly, ensuring the UK plays its fair and proper role in limiting global temperatures to 1.5°C and actively conserving the natural world.
  • 2. Watford Borough Council declared a climate emergency in July 2019 and committed to becoming a climate neutral council by 2030, since taking actions including:

    (a) Establishing a sustainability forum to work with key communities and businesses in the borough;

    (b) Working to provide alternative and sustainable modes of transport for residents;

    (c) Leading by example to reduce waste in the council and the borough more generally;

    (d) Creating biodiversity in council-owned assets.

Council believes that:

  • All governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of climate and ecological breakdown;
  • Local governments should not wait for their national governments to change their policies;
  • Towns, cities and local authorities are uniquely placed to lead in tackling the climate and ecological emergency due to the close links with their residents;
  • The Climate and Ecological(CEE) Bill deserves the support of the government as it reassesses the urgency of the twin climate and ecological emergencies.

Council therefore resolves to:

  • Declare an ‘Ecological Emergency’ alongside the Climate Emergency it has already declared;
  • Work with partners locally and regionally to drive coordinated leadership and collaborative action to aid the recovery of nature and natural environments and identify areas for habitat restoration;
  • Lead by example and promote the good work the Council is currently and will in future be doing;
  • Publicly support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill;
  • Ask the Mayor to write to our MP to urge him to sign up to support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill.