Declaration of Climate Emergency
Deal Town Council acknowledges that the planet is facing an imminent existential threat from climate change and biodiversity loss. The findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's October 2018 Special Report attribute rising global temperatures to human activity, and state that limiting global warming to 1.5C degrees is necessary to avoid the very worst climate impacts. This will require global greenhouse gas emissions to halve by 2030 and drop to near zero emissions by 2050. Failing to achieve this will result in catastrophic impacts for humanity. In short, we now less than ten years to drastically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Humanity is currently falling far short of that target. Our government has committed to the UK becoming Net Zero by 2050 - to achieve this we need to take radical action at every level - personal, parish, town, district and county, as well as nationally and internationally.
In light of this unprecedented climate emergency, Deal Town Council has committed to becoming carbon neutral - Net Zero - in our operations by 2025. As a small council, we can be ambitious in our time scale for achieving carbon neutral status - this will ultimately assist the UK to reach our national target.
The Council is using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol model to assess its emissions and calculating them using Kent Association of Local Councils' new Carbon Calculator. This splits greenhouse gas emissions into three categories:
- Scope 1 - Direct (i.e. fuel)
- Scope 2 - Indirect (i.e. electricity)
- Scope 3 - Indirect (i.e. waste)
Additionally we are putting climate action at the centre of Deal Town Council's work, with all Full Council and Committees decisions being assessed for their environmental impact.
Deal Town Council is powered by 100% renewable electricity and 100% renewable gas.
Your Carbon Footprint
If you want to reduce your own carbon emissions, Giki Zero is a great step by step guide to a lighter carbon footprint.