Recent news article ‘Senior NFDC Tories at odds over climate change urgency’ was written by Jon Waller – jon.waller@advertiserandtimes.co.uk | Published: 00:30, 19 September 2021. You can read it here: https://www.advertiserandtimes.co.uk/news/senior-nfdc-tories-at-odds-over-climate-change-urgency-9216366/
Our response to this article is below: "Sir – The recent debate over NFDC’s Climate (in)Action, is deeply concerning (reported 19.9.21). The use of ‘Emergency’ vs ‘Action Plan’ would not matter if it were simply a matter of language. However, the ‘Action Plan’ adopted with net-zero targets of 2050, alongside Councillor Tipp’s description of global temperature rises as modest, reveals the lack of understanding among senior Councilors. The global experts, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warn that beyond 1.5◦C there are likely to be severe, irreversible changes in terms of extreme weather, biodiversity loss, and sea-level rise. In this context current 1.1◦C temperature rises are not moderate – especially as we continue to produce further emissions. These emissions are cumulative, therefore global temperatures will still rise after we reach net zero, before eventually leveling off. Hence, the urgency to act. As a local council, the responsibility is local. With low-lying marshland in Fawley, Lymington and Milford on Sea are vulnerable to flooding from sea-level rise, this is a genuine, local concern. References to the inaction of other countries are just a cop-out. NFDC should be focussing on what needs to be done here and now – acting to reach net-zero by 2030 (not 2050). We all know change is coming and needed, it will bring costs, but also opportunities." Nicola Jolly, New Forest Green Party member and former District Council election candidate.