The need to declare a climate emergency was prompted by the 15th. Special Report from the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warning of the effects of a 2 (DEGREE) rise in global temperatures: –

  • up to 30% of all species would be at risk of extinction
  • crop yields would reduce
  • droughts would become more common

The report also identifies that by limiting warming to 1.5 C (degree) and reducing greenhouse gasses (GHGs)

  • 50% fewer species will be at risk of significant habitation loss
  • 10 million fewer people will be displaced due to rises in sea levels
  • 420 million fewer people will be exposed to extreme heatwaves.

In February 2019 Devon County Council agreed to declare a Climate Emergency. The Devon Climate Declaration commits by collaboration to develop and implement a plan to achieve a 45% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and 100% by 2050.

Reducing our carbon footprint is something each and everyone of us can do something about, for example using the car less, use LED lights, unplug electrical devices, consume less, recycle more – refuse less, buy things with less packaging, campaign more.

Nearly everything we do and use uses energy in one form or another. Much of this leaves a carbon footprint, by using less energy we are not only helping ourselves but our friends and family as well. Making tiny adjustments can make huge improvements; switching off lights we are not using, switching off and unplugging electrical devices over night, only boiling the amount of water in a kettle we actually need.

Protecting the natural world giving wildlife a place to flourish is not only good for our health and well being it helps produce the food we need without the need for chemical intervention.

Droughts at any time of year are becoming far more frequent. How we use water not wasting water not polluting water has a huge impact.

Transport is another area we all need to consider, whether it is car journeys, the pollution from road runoffs into water courses, or just buying local produce, which reduces air miles and air pollution. By reducing our consumption, packaging and saving us money all helps reduce our carbon footprint and is better for our health. These are all areas we will be exploring through Honiton Community Action Group.