Climate campaigners' anniversary message to Dorset Council
Extinction Rebellion are calling for consistency and urgent action on a 3 year old promise
Climate campaigners have got an anniversary message for Dorset Council as the authority celebrates its third anniversary this week.
The creation of the new unitary authority also saw councillors declare a 'climate emergency.'
But Extinction Rebellion are accusing Dorset Council of not joining the dots between their climate emergency action plan, and other Council strategies such as, finance, planning and transport.
They say a recent motion to support new fossil fuel energy production in Dorset, such as oil drilling near Puddletown, is contradictory to the climate emergency.
Campaigners are due to gather outside County Hall tonight (12 May) as Dorset Council meets.
Extinction Rebellion say:
“No new oil & gas extraction, no more fossil fuel investments in our pension scheme or incineration plants to burn waste materials such as plastics, is our anniversary message to Dorset Council.”
XR supporters believe that Dorset Council are saying one thing and doing another.
Caz Dennett, a local XR supporter has submitted questions to the meeting asking Dorset Council to reflect on their contradictory statements and decisions.
She said:
“Last month the United Nations clearly stated that investing in new fossil fuels infrastructure is moral and economic madness, and the International Energy Agency also says there should be no new fossil fuel extraction. And yet, just 10 days later Dorset Council voted to support an energy strategy that includes new oil and gas extraction, nationally and here in Dorset.
"We’re asking them ‘Is the UN wrong to say we must prevent new fossil fuel extraction?’ You have to wonder if the Council actually understand the realities of the climate crisis.
“Similarly, the UN said if you invest in the stock market; if you care about justice and our children’s future; then demand an end to all fossil fuel subsidies, and so we ask Dorset Council why do they continue to invest £41 million of Pension Fund money in fossil fuel companies?
"Even mega investment house BlackRock says excluding fossil fuels is morally right and financially safe. Therefore, we ask Dorset Council aren’t their decisions simply moral and economic madness?”
Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, responded to the planned protest and said:
“Activist groups are free to peacefully protest outside County Hall. They are also welcome to observe the Council meeting provided they do not interrupt the democratic process, but Dorset Council intends to get on with the job people rightly expect us to do.
“We need to look at all available options for energy production within Dorset, balancing the protection of our natural environment with the immediate need for self-sufficiency as we tackle the cost of living crisis.
"Our Pension Fund Committee is pursuing a strategy to decarbonise the pension fund’s investment portfolio and reduce investment in high carbon-emitting companies, and our Planning Committee is yet to make a decision regarding the application made to the Council for an incinerator on Portland.
“I recommend having a read of our Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) Strategy progress report online to see how much we’ve been up to address the CEE.”