Hastings Green Party launches East Sussex Climate Emergency Petition

Are you troubled by the reality of climate change and ecological breakdown? Would you like to do something about it? Do you want to influence our council to make real changes that might help us all?

If the answer is yes to any of the above then join the Green party in calling on East Sussex County Council to follow the example of Hastings, Lewes and Eastbourne councils and declare a Climate Emergency. You can add your name here

PETITION TO EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

We know that climate change is one of the most urgent challenges of the 21st century, and the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has made it clear that we only have until 2030 to take positive action.

District and borough councils across East Sussex have made commitments to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 including Hastings, Lewes and Eastbourne, but this won’t happen without a similar commitment by East Sussex County Council.

Let the County Council know how you feel, and add your signature to our plea to recognise that the climate emergency is the responsibility of all levels of local government. Call on them to declare a state of emergency and take real action across the county.

Climate change is one of the most urgent challenges of the 21st century. Avoiding the worst impacts is still possible, but only if national, regional and local authorities take rapid and ambitious action now. Bold climate action can deliver new green jobs and economic benefits, preserve wildlife and habitats, and improve life for people worldwide.

District and borough councils across East Sussex have already made commitments to becoming carbon neutral by 2030, including Hastings, Lewes and Eastbourne. But meeting this target will be impossible without a similar commitment from East Sussex County Council.

We therefore call on East Sussex County Council to:

• Declare a climate emergency
• Set a target for East Sussex to be carbon neutral by 2030 and put a plan in place within six months to achieve this aim.
• Put this goal at the forefront of all future decision making
• Call on Government to support the Council to achieve this aim
• Be pro-active as the education authority in ensuring the young people of East Sussex have a voice in shaping this zero carbon future.
• To support a series of county wide citizens’ assemblies on the climate crisis and implement their recommendations.
• Commit to the principles outlined in the Wildlife Trust’s Nature Recovery Network that puts space for nature at the heart of our planning systems in order to bring nature into the places where most people live their daily lives.
• Revise the transport strategy to reduce car use and put walking, cycling and sustainable transport at the centre of future plans for the county.
• Commit to a zero waste strategy and embed the principles of a circular economy into its future corporate plan.