Published 4th July 2019

Cllr Ian Gilbert, Labour councillor for Victoria ward and leader of Southend Borough Council, has this week voiced his support for the Local Government Association in declaring a climate emergency.

At the LGA Conference in Bournemouth this week, Cllr Gilbert supported an amendment proposed by the LGA Labour Group to a motion in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The revised motion commits the LGA to supporting councils in tackling climate change, and lobbying central government on councils’ behalf to achieve this.

Cllr Gilbert said, “It’s undeniable that climate change is already the great challenge of our age, something which is being recognised around the world and across the political spectrum. I am delighted to see local government leading the charge in fighting it.”

“Councils up and down the country have been taking the lead by declaring a climate emergency, and committing to reduce emissions. There is a lot of difference that local government can make, and our environmental policies are a key part of the new joint administration’s agenda for Southend. I look forward to Southend Council joining the LGA and other councils in declaring a climate emergency hopefully very soon.”