On Monday this week (September 16), Rother District Council unanimously adopted a motion to declare a climate emergency, following in the footsteps of neighbouring local authorities in East Sussex.
The motion was debated with obvious passion, commitment and determination by several individual councillors of differing political affiliations. Cllr Sally-Ann Hart (Eastern Rother) stated that action on climate change should not be a party political issue and all of us should take responsibility. There is an opportunity for clean economic growth which can provide jobs and opportunities for young people. She also wishes for Rother district to become a single-use-plastic-free zone.
Cllr Paul Osborne (Eastern Rother) spoke of his efforts to live a low-carbon lifestyle. He lives in an ‘A’ rated house he built and is now building a house for his son that does not require a fossil fuel heat source at all. He has not flown for more than 15 years and cycles greater distances than he drives. He is almost vegetarian but not quite ready to abandon his Sunday morning bacon roll!
The resolution drew applause from members of the public and this decision increases the chances of Rother taking meaningful action although no vote on such action has yet been proposed or taken.
