With the IPCC's latest findings being described as a 'red alert for humanity,' the climate targets of both local and national governments in the UK, as well as around the world, are coming under close scrutiny, with one environmental group questioning Cornwall Council's ability to hit its climate targets.

In order to keep global heating limited to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, the target set by the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, action must be taken within the next decade to prevent devastating extreme weather events such as flooding, heatwaves and droughts.

In 2019, Cornwall Council declared a climate emergency and has since gone on to produce its own Climate Change Actipn plan in which it outlines what the Council will be doing in order to become carbon neutral by 2030.

The schemes involved include increasing tree canopy coverage; increasing the county's biodiversity; and the creation of a local nature recovery network among other schemes.

Since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2010, using the most recent data from 2018, Cornwall Council says it has reduced emissions by 21% since 2010 , which works out as approximately 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e). 

The Council also says further reductions are expected from data in 2019 and 2020.

In order to keep to the IPCC's recommendation of keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees, Cornwall will need to deliver a further emissions reduction 1.1 MtCO2e to achieve the IPCC target and the higher, 3.7 MtCO2e target set in Cornwall Council’s climate emergency declaration made in 2019.

However, local environment groups are not confident that Cornwall Council will be able to hit their target.

Falmouth Packet: Extinction Rebellion have chapters all over the world, including Cornwall. Extinction Rebellion have chapters all over the world, including Cornwall.

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Chris Bird, spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion in Cornwall, said: "I'm absolutely confident that they're not on track to to hit their targets.

"You have to look behind the figures, and what is often the case is that the carbon is still being produced, it's just being produced elsewhere.

"So when the UK government talks about reducing emissions by about 40%, what they mean is that certain things are not being included in the figures.

"So goods are now being produced in China instead of the UK, so they don't count as part of our figures.

"These are not real reductions.

"The really key steps are around transport, housing and, in Cornwall, agriculture, and there's almost nothing happening in those areas, and what is happening is going in the wrong direction.

Chris was also dubious that the schemes proposed by the Council, such as tree planting, would be feasible.

"Where are they going to plant these trees?

"Cornwall Council doesn't control the land where they want these trees planted, and it will be several years until the repay the carbon that;s been used in creating tree-guards and transporting those trees and growing them and so on.

"They're probably going to use contractors to plant these trees, who will most likely do it in a very carbon-intensive way.

"In the meantime, they're allowing he destruction of mature trees, we've seen that in the Carbis Bay area, and we're seeing it in the preparations for the A30 dualling that's going ahead.

"What you see nationally is just repeated locally, lot's of promises and very little action."

Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for environment and climate change, has previously said that a 'mind-set change' coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic will be the catalyst for people across the county living differently.

Falmouth Packet: Extinction Rebellion protestors in Falmouth, Cornwall this year. Extinction Rebellion protestors in Falmouth, Cornwall this year.

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When speaking about Cornwall's own emissions Cllr Alvey told the Packet: “The UN’s own method of measuring emissions shows Cornwall has reduced emissions by more than a fifth from 2010 to 2018, which works out as approximately 1m tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e). 

“During this time, household emissions have reduced by nearly a third, agricultural emissions by just under 7% and transport emissions have increased by 3%.

“Significant emissions reductions are expected to be shown in data for 2019 and 2020 which is not yet available.

“Keeping global warming below the 1.5 degrees threshold will require all countries to reduce their emissions by at least 45% by 2030 from the 2010 baseline set by the IPCC.

“Cornwall is determined to play our part – and we are leading the way. To achieve the IPCC target Cornwall will need to deliver a further emissions reduction of 1.1 MtCO2e between 2018 and 2030. To achieve our own, higher target to help Cornwall strive towards becoming carbon neutral by 2030 as set out in our climate emergency declaration, we need to reduce our emissions by 3.7 MtCO2e.”

To find out more about Cornwall Council's Climate Change Action plan, visit: cornwall.gov.uk/environment/