The IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, published in October 2018, describes the enormous harm that a 2°C rise is likely to cause compared to a 1.5°C rise, and told us that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector and local communities.

Numerous local organisations, including Transition New Mills, have been working tirelessly for many years to prevent climate breakdown, but change must happen faster.  We need local government and local people to work together to prepare for the future and increase our resilience to the challenges we face.

Therefore, we call upon High Peak Borough Council to;

1. Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’. This is an internationally recognised declaration which has been used by authorities in the UK and across the world to acknowledge the impact of the changing climate.

2. Work with local citizens and organisations for a 12 month consultation period to produce a zero-carbon plan that benefits our local community and shared environment and pledges to make High Peak carbon neutral by 2030.

3. Hold a Climate Summit in 2019 to begin the above process.