Climate Emergency
Climate Science
Climate science is established and global climate change is upon us, exacerbated by human activities. Thursley Parish Council accepts the veracity of the science and its conclusions published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). To avoid irreparable social, economic and environmental damage, it is essential that we individually and collectively accelerate our efforts to decarbonise our economy and stabilise the levels of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere, if we are to have any chance of limiting the global average temperature rise to 1.5 °C relative to pre-industrial levels.
Biodiversity
In its recent report, the Intergovernmental Science – Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) highlighted nature’s dangerous decline and unprecedented rates of species extinction that are accelerating. It identified that the current global response is `insufficient` and transformative changes were needed to restore and protect nature. These concerns are echoed in the UK Government’s 25-year plan for the environment which states that “We are in danger of presiding over massive human-induced extinctions when we should instead be recognizing the intrinsic value of the wildlife and plants that are our fellow inhabitants of this planet.” Thursley Parish Council acknowledges the need to support biodiversity and sustainability in our environment.
Net Zero
Thursley Parish Council fully supports the aims of the UK Government and Surrey County Council to reduce net emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to zero by 2050.
Emissions reduction must start NOW
Thursley Parish Council agrees that serious action to combat climate change is urgent and must start immediately and accelerate. The IPCC articulates this as reducing global emissions by at least 7.6% per year, every year to 2030 (as an interim target) or reducing total emissions by at least 50% each decade from now to 2050.
Working together
Thursley Parish Council will work with Surrey County Council and Waverley Borough Council to support the means to achieve the goals on reduction of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and on improving biodiversity.
Infographic information is available here