Pathways to Zero Carbon Sheffield

The report “Pathways to Zero Carbon Sheffield” is a detailed document showing how Sheffield can dramatically reduce its carbon footprint. Following protests and petitions by Extinction Rebellion, the Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019. At last there is now a plan to achieve big cuts in our carbon emissions. This report is going toContinueContinue reading “Pathways to Zero Carbon Sheffield”

I declare a Nature Emergency

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCVNpZSEDqQ Today I am declaring a Nature Emergency.  More than 1 in 10 of over 8,000 species are at risk of extinction – with 1 in 4 UK mammal species at threat of being lost. The planet is experiencing the 6th mass extinction of species. Globally, populations of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles haveContinueContinue reading “I declare a Nature Emergency”

Labour and Greens join together in Cooperative Cabinet

Today was a momentous day for Sheffield. It has been announced that the Labour Party and the Green Party have reached an agreement to work together in a cooperative Cabinet. Here Cllr Peter Garbutt shares his thoughts on the new agreement. There will be an Inquiry into the Tree Dispute. https://youtu.be/1mUFk2v5nrU New Councillor Tina GilliganContinueContinue reading “Labour and Greens join together in Cooperative Cabinet”

I declare a Nature Emergency. Do you?

Sheffield Council still refuse to declare a nature emergency. They know if they did they would have to rethink their use of dangerous pesticides and herbicides like Glyphosate that kill our wild flowers, insects and pollinators. Nature Recovery Sheffield has been set up to form a massive coalition to campaign for a Nature Emergency declaration.ContinueContinue reading “I declare a Nature Emergency. Do you?”

How should I vote to save the planet?

The local elections are on May 6th. If you live in Sheffield you have 3 votes.  One for the referendum, where you will be asked if you want the Council to continue with its “strong leader” model whereby the 10 cabinet members make the decisions or change to a more inclusive, democratic committee system thatContinueContinue reading “How should I vote to save the planet?”

Sheffield Council fails to call an Ecological Emergency

At the Sheffield Council meeting on February 3rd a petition was presented from Greenpeace and Sheffield Green Parents asking them to call an Ecological Emergency. The response from Mark Jones, the Cabinet member for the Environment and Climate Change, was predictable. He agreed to work with different groups to improve the Council’s policies, but failedContinueContinue reading “Sheffield Council fails to call an Ecological Emergency”

Democracy only works when citizens are involved.

The Government have announced that the local elections, postponed from May 2020, will go ahead this May. But due to the pandemic volunteers from political parties will not be able to distribute leaflets. They can, however, pay a delivery company to do this for them. This will give parties with rich individual or corporate backersContinueContinue reading “Democracy only works when citizens are involved.”

Correction-Sheffield City Council Elections

Please can I correct a mistake I made in last week’s column “We must defend democracy”? I stated that next May, two-thirds of the Councillors will need to defend their seats in the Sheffield City Council elections. This is incorrect, as 2021 was due to be a “fallow” year, with no elections. The postponed 2020ContinueContinue reading “Correction-Sheffield City Council Elections”