Declaring a climate emergency in Hart

A challenge for our times

The declaration of a climate emergency for Hart, at full Council meeting on 29 April 2021, recognised climate change as the most serious environmental challenge facing us in the 21st century.

Lots of other councils across the UK have made similar declarations. Like Hart, they've made taking action against climate change a major priority.

What's the impact of climate change?

The changes caused by climate change in Hart are often hard to see but are very real. Unless we take action, our district could suffer effects such as water shortages, hotter summers, more storm damage and loss of plants and wildlife.

Globally, the climate crisis threatens people, animals and habitats. The impacts already include:

• intense droughts

• water shortages

• severe wildfires

• rising sea levels

• flooding

• melting polar ice

• catastrophic storms

• declining biodiversity

Hart's declaration commits the Council to:

• making climate change a priority for our district

• committing to becoming a carbon-neutral authority by 2035

• committing to becoming a carbon-neutral district by 2040

• putting reduction of CO2 emissions in Hart at the centre of all policies and formal decision-making

Councillors have also agreed to:

• report to Council every six months on actions we are taking to address the climate change emergency

• meaningfully engage with the local community and work with partners across the district and county to deliver these new goals through all relevant strategies and plans, drawing on local, national and global best practice

• actively work with Hampshire County Council and the Government to provide the additional powers and resources needed to meet the 2040 target

• actively encourage and push for Hampshire County Council to bring its target for achieving carbon neutrality forward to 2040, acknowledging that 2050 is too far away for such an emergency