Dover District Council cabinet members have acknowledged the serious impact of climate change globally and agrees there is a need for urgent action.

As a result, the cabinet agreed to recommend full council declares a climate change emergency, on Monday, November 4.

Members agreed to set up a cross party climate change member working group, which will prepare a strategy and action plan, with an aspiration for the council to become a net zero carbon emitter by 2030.

Cabinet members also pledged to help support the wider community so the district can become carbon neutral by 2050.

Members of full council are now set to consider declaring a climate change emergency at its next meeting on January 29 next year.

A declaration would mean the council would join a range of councils across Kent and the UK in making such a declaration.

This follows two motions by full council in July regarding aspects of climate change, and actions the authority could take to limit use of fossil carbon and encourage others to do the same.

The working group will be looking at a range of measures for the future.

The council has already confirmed support for the Kent Environment Strategy and Kent Fuel Poverty Strategy, and signed the Emissions Reduction Pledge 2020.

Officers have also been working with Kent partners on the draft Energy and Low Emissions Strategy.

The council is involved in a range of initiatives including: energy efficiency measures; LED street lighting; electric vehicle charging point installations; habitat schemes and green corridors; and the council's recycling services, which already meet the Government’s draft objective for 2023 for the range of materials collected.

The authority has recently taken charge of two new electric vehicles and is looking into options for expanding its use of electric vehicles.

It has been making regular reports on the level of greenhouse gas emissions which have been dropping steadily year on year since 2009/10.

Cllr Trevor Bartlett, leader of the council, said: “This is a very significant step.

"If we are to change behaviour and encourage the move to a carbon neutral future, there is a key role for Dover District Council in promoting environmental considerations and working alongside local communities to reduce carbon emissions for the future.”

For more information, read the report to cabinet on the council's website or see its climate change pages.

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