Thank you to everyone who rallied outside the Civic Centre this evening calling for Newcastle City Council to declare a climate emergency and stop another coal mine in the city.

It was heartening to see so many groups uniting for the same cause and to gather much-needed objections to Banks' plans for Dewley Hill.

In reponse to the Green Party's petition, the Cabinet member for the Environment declared a climate emergency and agreed to 'raise the profile of climate change' to become carbon neutral by 2030.

He highlighted the need for 'further radical action' and pledged to establish a climate change convention.

Climate change is one of the biggest threats to biodiversity, and loss of biodiversity is as big a threat as climate change.

These inseparable threats must be tackled urgently.