The leader of the Liberal Democrats group at Cornwall Council has said the local authority’s goal for the Duchy to be carbon neutral by 2030 is “now totally impossible”. Cllr Colin Martin accused the council of blocking a debate on the issue at a meeting yesterday (Tuesday, January 16), writes LDR Reporter Lee Trewhela.

He had tabled a motion for the council to recognise that “due to the Government’s failure to provide the necessary resources and powers”, the goal of a ‘carbon neutral Cornwall’ in six years’ time was now completely impossible.

However, council chairman Cllr Pauline Giles referred the motion to the authority’s Cabinet as the matter had “financial and legal implications”, and further background information was required.

Cllr Martin told a full chamber at County Hall / Lys Kernow in Truro: “This month marks the fifth anniversary of our climate emergency declaration. In 2019, we set a goal for Cornwall to be ‘carbon neutral’ by 2030. We knew that this would only be possible with significant new powers and resources from the Government, but councillors of all parties agreed to campaign together for this change.

“Sadly the Conservative Government has totally ignored us, and now I believe it’s time to tell the truth: The goal we set five years ago is now totally impossible.”

He added: “With global average temperatures 1.48 degrees above pre-industrial levels, 2023 saw wildfires, floods, droughts and heatwaves destroy property, ruin crops and kill thousands of people around the world. Meanwhile here in Cornwall, residents are struggling to heat their homes, put food on their tables and make essential journeys because our energy, farming and transport systems are still completely dominated by expensive fossil fuels.

“As well as calling for councillors to acknowledge these facts, my motion asked for officers to publish an updated plan with a ‘challenging but realistic’ target date. After all, a target without a plan is meaningless.

“After five years of working on the issue, the council ought to be able to spell out the key steps to electrifying our homes, our vehicles and our industry and describe how we can produce our food and energy from sustainable sources.”

Cllr Martin told the meeting: “It’s important for councillors to be held accountable for the policies of the parties they represent, but our debate today has been blocked by an unexpected technicality. Apparently the council has no plan for Cornwall to reach net zero. It does not even have a plan to write a plan within 12 months.

“So because point 2 asked officers to do a piece of work [on creating a new plan for delivery] which hasn’t been funded, you have been denied the opportunity to debate the whole motion.”

He asked for a further discussion once the motion has been discussed at Cabinet level asking members if they agree “that we urgently need new scrutiny arrangements to ensure that plans are brought forward and implemented as soon as possible”. “Our residents want to know where you stand,” he added.

However, the council’s Labour Party group leader Cllr Jayne Kirkham was not happy with Cllr Martin’s motion.

She said after the meeting: “The original climate emergency declaration was proposed and seconded by myself and Cllr Martyn Alvey in 2019. That emergency declaration amendment was not supported by the Liberal Democrat group, although the final motion did pass virtually unanimously.

“The Labour group would not support that 2030 carbon neutral target being abandoned now as suggested in Cllr Martin’s motion while a group of officers were tasked over 12 months with setting later targets. That would in reality mean a watering down of the climate target to nothing for the rest of this council administration. There would be no benchmark to hold the Conservatives to account for.

“That means they would be ‘off the hook’ in climate terms and progress on carbon reduction could stall.”