Birmingham City Council declared a climate emergency on June 11th 2019. Since then, everything has gone quiet, although we were aware that they had established a Task Group (called R20 – Route to Zero) to take actions forward. They did not invite Extinction Rebellion, nor Friends of the Earth to participate in the Task Group.
However, I learnt today that the Council set up an on-line consultation survey in January 2020 and that the deadline for responding to it has now passed. The link to complete the survey was as follows:
https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/economy/climate-emergency-citizen-survey/
though I am not sure if the link is still active.
Birmingham Council House
The Council are also doing a number of other things:
Sandpits Workshops
These are policy development sessions on key themes, with the aim of providing Taskforce members, officers, experts, and key partners and stakeholders with the opportunity to share knowledge and understanding of what is already known, how that helps the Task Group, and what else needs to be explored. The following is a table of the workshops to be held:
|
Theme |
Provisional date |
Location |
|
Housing |
27 Feb (AM) |
University of Birmingham |
|
Transport |
26 Feb (PM) |
UoB |
|
Planning/development and regulation |
24 Feb (PM) |
UoB |
|
Education, skills and employment pathways |
TBC (Mar) |
UoB |
|
East Birmingham and North Solihull (EBNS) |
17 Mar |
EBNS (visit) |
|
Engagement |
TBC (early Mar) |
STEAMhouse |
To attend one of the workshops individuals need to be nominated by an organisation, who then needs to contact Rose Horsfall: Rose.Horsfall@birmingham.gov.uk. However, all of the dates above were postponed to March.
In addition, the R20 Task Force wants to set up citizen engagement sessions:
Invitation to convene a community conversation
“In April we would like further citizen engagement to be undertaken and are inviting Taskforce members to express their interest in convening community conversations which the Council will provide financial support for.
These sessions will take place following the engagement sandpit in March where we will be sharing good practice and learning to explore in depth how best to engage with our citizens on this agenda, including identifying target audiences across the city.
Please contact Naomi (Naomi.Todd@birmingham.gov.uk) if you would be interested in convening a session.”
Birmingham City Council had a debate in full council meeting on the work of the Task Force on 4th February 2020. It can be viewed at http://civico.net/birmingham/democratic-services/8971 starting at 2 hours 07 minutes in the track.
National Climate Assembly UK
The second weekend of the National Climate Assembly took place in Birmingham on the weekend of 22nd-23rd Feb 2020. For further details and to view the session follow this link: Weekend 2.
Update 11th March 2020:
I have heard through my contacts that several members of the R20 Task Force are extremely unhappy about its progress and at the shambolic way it is taking the agenda forward. The letter below to the Chairman of the Task Force perhaps reflects these frustrations:
“TYSELEY INCINERATOR: Beyond The Pale
What Birmingham City Council and the wider city does with its waste will play a vital part in tackling the climate emergency. Reducing the amount of waste produced, increasing the amount of waste used as a resource through re-use and recycling, and reducing the amount going to incineration are all key to a low carbon future.
Therefore we have a number of concerns about the council starting this procurement:
1) Our first concern is about process. The motion passed by the City Council declaring the climate emergency called on the council to “review planned Transport, Housing, Waste and Energy Investment plans and policies to ensure they are fit to support a transition to a zero-carbon future”. Starting the procurement process for a continuation of the status quo this ageing and inefficient incinerator does not seem to show any evidence of reviewing planned investment plans and policies. Furthermore, starting this procurement process before the Task Force has finished its work, and before the Climate Action Plan is drafted and approved by Full Council, feels premature and effectively putting the cart before the horse.
In response to these concerns, Birmingham City Council responded to the environmental acitivists in an article, sourced on msn.com news:
Birmingham City Council blasted over ‘inadequate’ climate emergency response
They also pointed to the electrification of the National Express bus fleet, the rolling out of hydrogen buses next year and the imminent installation of 394 charging points for electric vehicles as evidence of their commitment to the cause.
However, organisations such as Climate Action Network West Midlands seem far from convinced by the council’s claims.
“Are they serious?” a spokesperson said.
“During the Covid-19 crisis, Birmingham Council has shown that it can act quickly and effectively to protect citizens health and wellbeing.
“The far more dangerous climate crisis may have dropped out of the news, but it has not gone away.
“The council unanimously declared a Climate Emergency in June 2019 and set up a “Task Force” to create an action plan to reach “net zero” carbon emissions from transport, waste, homes and industry by 2030.
“After lots of meetings and money on consultants, we still have no action plan. Hardly anyone in the city even knows we are officially in a Climate Emergency.
“Birmingham is not alone in struggling to take action to prevent climate chaos.
“The Government, WMCA and hundreds of other UK councils have declared a climate emergency, but few have taken meaningful action.”
Footsteps – Faiths for a Low Carbon Future is a faith-based group in Birmingham, and has also voiced its concerns over the council’s perceived lack of action.
“Given the climate emergency, progress has been slow, particularly in obtaining the resources required to make Birmingham a sustainable and inclusive city,” spokesperson Chris Martin said.
“The council now needs to provide leadership and vision, not only for areas under its own direct influence but also for those related to the West Midlands Combined Authority and the National Government.
“The matter of rising global temperatures has only become more prescient as the years have gone by.
“Yet, almost a year on from the declaration of a Climate Emergency by Birmingham City Council, we have been disappointed to see an entirely inadequate response from our local council and its so-called taskforce.
“The Coronavirus pandemic has shown the best of our community, through mutual aid work by campaigns or cafes and neighbours looking out for one another – it’s time for our city council to reflect these efforts by moving beyond empty statements to taking progressive action on climate breakdown.
“We call on Birmingham City Council to properly commit to ambitious action on the climate crisis, based on the principles of social justice and the welfare of our communities.
“We additionally demand more urgent discussion with local groups and trade unions to rapidly determine the necessary structural changes for a just transition.”
The council says while progress has been somewhat slowed due to the impact of Covid-19, it has still taken action ‘to widen pavements in local centres, create pop-up cycle lanes across the city and to restrict through-traffic in the city centre and residential neighbourhoods.’
However Birmingham Labour for a Green New Deal say that they have seen no real changes to policy, and have urged the council to start taking action now.
“Almost a year on from the declaration of a Climate Emergency by Birmingham City Council, we have been disappointed to see an entirely inadequate response from our local council and its so-called taskforce.
“Instead of connecting with long-standing community groups and organisers to develop a true community-led response, based on the principles of social and climate justice, we have seen no substantial changes to our council’s policies or practices.
“We believe that the climate crisis must be addressed through a transformative and bold agenda: one that takes account of our responsibilities to our planet; one that guarantees a just transition for workers across our city; and one which centres social justice and our most under-resourced communities.
“The Coronavirus pandemic has shown the best of our community, through mutual aid work by campaigns or cafes and neighbours looking out for one another – it’s time for our City Council to reflect these efforts by moving beyond empty statements to taking progressive action on climate breakdown.
“We call on Birmingham City Council to properly commit to ambitious action on the climate crisis, based on the principles of social justice and the welfare of our communities.
“We additionally demand more urgent discussion with local groups and trade unions to rapidly determine the necessary structural changes for a just transition.”
Responding to the comments, a spokesperson for Birmingham City Council said: “The council continues to show its commitment to taking a leading role, playing its part, and working with individuals, communities, businesses, partners, and others across the city and region to act now on the causes and impacts of the climate emergency.
“Given all we are doing these comments seem a little out of touch, not to say ill-informed.
“The city council continues to work towards the city becoming net zero carbon and, to achieving a ‘just transition’ ensuring we reduce inequalities in the city and bring our communities with us. This is the city’s ‘route to zero’ (R20).
“At the same time the council’s cabinet agreed to add a new priority to the council plan which states that Birmingham will be ‘a city that takes a leading role in tackling climate change’.
“This commitment embeds climate action in the council’s decision-making process to make sure that all service areas contribute to the R20 journey, overseen by a cross-party climate change taskforce.”
31.8.20
Comments from an XR member:
“The worst news is that the report to Birmingham City Council on 15th September will state that the net-zero target date for the whole city is 2041, ‘because 2030 isn’t realistic’. So, at the 11th hour, the core of the June 2019 motion has been demolished with no debate.
The CANWM delegate present at the Taskforce on Wednesday put an opposition minority report on the record, but unless something big is done it will be ignored.
Although they give a clear focus and framework, target dates mainly emphasise that action to drastically cut carbon as rapidly as possible should be happening now. This is not the case, well over a year since the BCC declared a climate emergency. Tragically, Covid has been a lot more successful in this regard!
The second to worst news was that BCC still plan to make the already slow and bureaucratised Task Force (R20) a sub-group of the ‘City Board’ (what’s that?) Lots of people on Wednesday expressed concern, but it seems they are unable to comprehend that an arbitrary group of bigwigs deciding stuff for 1 million people with no transparency or oversight might be a problem.
The 15th September council meeting will be online, but discussions are now beginning on how to build a big mobilisation on that day in Victoria Square. It would be good if XR Birmingham could be part of this.”
3rd September2020:
Footsteps’ Statement re: R20 Taskforce Report Sept 2020
Birmingham Council declared a climate emergency in June 2019 with a goal of the city becoming a net zero carbon city by 2030, or as soon after as a just transition permits. A Taskforce was set up to develop and bring back to Full Council a plan for achieving net zero carbon.
Footsteps has been a member of the Taskforce, participating in Taskforce meetings, submitting reports and papers, running community engagement activities and working with other Taskforce members. The Taskforce’s plan for achieving net zero carbon is being considered at a Full Council meeting on 15 September.
In advance of the meeting Footsteps has issued a statement welcoming the Council’s cross-party and collaborative approach and the progress that has been made in challenging times, but also raising a number of specific serious concerns. These concerns include:
- that the ambition for becoming a net zero carbon city has slipped from 2030 to 2041 without explanation;
- that ‘just transition’ aspects of the original Declaration ‘making sure we take communities with us, protecting employment and without impoverishing deprived communities’ are underdeveloped in the Carbon Emission Reduction Study action plan;
- that little attention is given to funding the transition apart from the need for central Government funding and the Council’s own limited resources. Funding should include, for example, mobilising residents’ own savings, pension funds and innovative sources of finance such as Green Bonds and crowd-funding;
- that insufficient attention has been given to communicating and engaging with Birmingham’s citizens and building up their support.
A copy of the full statement can be seen on the Footsteps website.
Update 10th September 2020:
Statement from Climate Action Network West Midlands (CANWM)
10.9.20
A unanimous motion by Birmingham City Council to act on the climate emergency has been undermined by a handful of officers and out-of-town consultants. Birmingham has been written off as a can’t-do city and denied the many benefits of action on the climate emergency.
On 11th June 2019, Birmingham Council agreed a cross-party motion declaring a Climate Emergency. It also agreed to develop a plan of action for the city to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030, or as soon after as a Just Transition permits. The plan was supposed to be developed by a Task Force and presented to the Council for adoption in January 2020.
Fifteen months later, there is still no plan. The Climate Action Network West Midlands rejects this delay; it cannot be attributed to the Covid crisis as this broke out after the supposed deadline.
The next council meeting on Tuesday 15th September is due to discuss “a report”. This will not come, as it should, from the Climate Taskforce. Nevertheless, we are calling for:
- A robust climate action plan – setting out in detail the “who, what, when, where, how” aspects of achieving net-zero emissions. This plan should be produced and presented to Council before the end of 2020.
- All future work of the Climate Emergency Task Force to be available to citizens of Birmingham and involve meaningful participation of the partners and communities who will be most affected and involved in the Just Transition to a sustainable, zero-carbon city.
- All Council departments and officers to review / amend plans and policies to take account of the Climate Emergency.
Birmingham is a dynamic city with a proud history of innovation and determination. This delay represents a lost opportunity to deliver benefits for the majority of Brummies – green jobs, affordable transport, cleaner and healthier air for all, decent housing, and resilient communities with more access to green space.
A Just Transition to net-zero carbon will also support Council priorities on reducing deprivation and inequality. These benefits were not seriously considered by the external consultants who drew up the initial report.
We can and must act urgently and decisively to build a better city and avoid a climate catastrophe which will affect every citizen. The sooner that carbon reduction measures are implemented, the greater their effect; the changes need to be front-loaded.
Over a year after the climate emergency declaration we see no sense of urgency. In contrast, cities like Manchester and Bristol have had plans in place for two years. On September 15th, we call on all councillors to return to the spirit, if not the letter, of the June 2019 declaration of Climate EMERGENCY.
For further information, contact CANWM at canwestm@gmail.com
https://www.climateactionwm.org.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/CANWM
______________________________________________________________________________
23rd September 2020:
It would seem that all the pressure and lobbying of the council prior to their 15th September meeting had an effect, as an amendment was introduced by the Labour council members and passed. Copied below in full is the corrected form of the amendment:
MOTION + AMENDMENT PASSED
1. Approves the target date to achieve net zero carbon is set as 2030 for the City Council’s own operations excluding its existing housing stock and procurement;
2. Notes the challenge of achieving the 2030 net zero carbon date for the City as a whole but commits the Council to working with partners and neighbouring local authorities to become the first City Region to become Carbon neutral. The Council’s ambition remains to achieve a net zero carbon outcome as soon as possible and a revised date will not be set until these discussions have taken place. Notes the challenge of achieving the 2030 net zero carbon date for the City as a whole, but commits the Council to working with partners and neighbouring local authorities to work towards this ambition, prioritising those measures that will have the biggest impact.
3. Approves that an advisory group to Cabinet is established to oversee the City Council’s own progress on achieving net zero carbon.
4. Approves that the City Council endorse the Recommendations for reducing the City Council’s own emissions as set out in Table 2 of this report.
5. Notes the content of the Anthesis report and commits the City Council to work with partners to pursue the recommendations where practical and feasible, developing appropriate Action Plans for future Cabinet approval. Notes the content of the Anthesis report and commits the City Council to work with partners to pursue develop these recommendations into an initial Action Plan to be approved by the December meeting of the Full Council. This action plan should include clear timescales and ownership of individual actions.”
6. Notes that an annual report will be taken to Full Council to update on progress on reducing carbon emissions. This should include a detailed breakdown of both the City’s and the Council’s carbon emissions for the previous year and targets for the following 5 years, together with a list of measures required to meet those targets.
7 “Resolves that funding for tackling the climate emergency is taken into account in the Council’s budget process and any changes to the Long-term financial plan.”
8: Resolves that all strategies and cabinet-level decisions agreed by the city council will be subject to a climate impact assessment – where they will be assessed against their impact on the Council’s climate change targets.”
Point 9: “Resolves that as part of the action plan the council will work towards zero carbon council housing. This will include no further installation new gas boilers in all new council built housing, committing to meeting ‘Passiv House’ standards for all new council built housing, not already in construction; and a programme of council housing retrofit to the highest energy efficient standards, prioritising the least energy efficient properties and households in the highest levels of fuel poverty.
ORIGINAL MOTION
1. Approves the target date to achieve net zero carbon is set as 2030 for the City Council’s own operations excluding its existing housing stock and procurement;
2. Notes the challenge of achieving the 2030 net zero carbon date for the City as a whole but commits the Council to working with partners and neighbouring local authorities to become the first City Region to become Carbon neutral. The Council’s ambition remains to achieve a net zero carbon outcome as soon as possible and a revised date will not be set until these discussions have taken place.
3. Approves that an advisory group to Cabinet is established to oversee the City Council’s own progress on achieving net zero carbon.
4. Approves that the City Council endorse the Recommendations for reducing the City Council’s own emissions as set out in Table 2 of this report.
5. Notes the content of the Anthesis report and commits the City Council to work with partners to pursue the recommendations where practical and feasible, developing appropriate Action Plans for future Cabinet approval.
6. Notes that an annual report will be taken to Full Council to update on progress on reducing carbon emissions.
AMENDMENT PASSED
Point 1: Delete “excluding its existing housing stock and procurement;”
Point 2: Amend to read as follows: “Notes the challenge of achieving the 2030 net zero carbon date for the City as a whole, but commits the Council to working with partners and neighbouring local authorities to work towards this ambition, prioritising those measures that will have the biggest impact.”
Point 5: Amend to read as follows: “Notes the content of the Anthesis report and commits the City Council to work with partners to pursue develop these recommendations into an initial Action Plan to be approved by the December meeting of the Full Council. This action plan should include clear timescales and ownership of individual actions.”
Point 6: Add at end “This should include a detailed breakdown of both the City’s and the Council’s carbon emissions for the previous year and targets for the following 5 years, together with a list of measures required to meet those targets.
Add Point 7 “Resolves that funding for tackling the climate emergency is taken into account in the Council’s budget process and any changes to the Long-term financial plan.”
Add point 8: “Resolves that all strategies and cabinet-level decisions agreed by the city council will be subject to a climate impact assessment – where they will be assessed against their impact on the Council’s climate change targets.”
Add Point 9: “Resolves that as part of the action plan the council will work towards zero carbon council housing. This will include no further installation new gas boilers in all new council built
housing, committing to meeting ‘Passiv House’ standards for all new council built housing, not already in construction; and a programme of council housing retrofit to the highest energy efficient standards, prioritising the least energy efficient properties and households in the highest levels of fuel poverty.”
.
