What do Extinction Rebellion, the Guardian’s style guide and over 200 local councils have in common? All have declared a ‘climate emergency’. Yet while these councils are keen to talk up the consequences on our planet of failing to act, are they actually practicing what they preach?
The decision of some councils to purchase cars for their own employees’ use, as revealed in a series of Freedom of Information requests I made, suggests they are not.
Councillors from Durham County Council declared a ‘climate emergency’ in February and the ‘County Durham environment partnership’, which the council is a member of, says getting more people to walk, use the bus or cycle is vital in the fight for the planet. It points out that 23 per cent of emissions come from the transport sector.
And yet the council leased 34 petrol and seven diesel cars for staff in 2018-2019. Luxury models such as the BMW 3 Series, the Mercedes-Benz A Class and the Land Rover Evoque, which start from £30,000, are among those vehicles included in the list released by the council.
A month after Durham, Suffolk county councillors joined the trendy ilk of catastrophist councils in voting to declare a ‘climate emergency’. Its website contains the following advice, in prose more appropriate for children than people of driving age:
Don’t forget…
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Walking is free!
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Walking can save you money
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Walking is good for your health and well being
Perhaps Suffolk county council should heed this advice, instead of providing staff with diesel vehicles including two VW Golf diesel hatchbacks.
North Yorkshire county council, meanwhile, paid for 28 diesel cars over the last three years. In July, North Yorkshire’s council leader councillor Carl Les said:
“The passion shown by 16-year-old Greta Thunberg from Sweden and the way that was embraced by our young people who want the issue addressed continues to impress me and in return I want to be clear that we share that commitment to the world we live in.”
“These are actions, not just words,” he added.
There is nothing wrong with council staff driving to work, of course. If you have a disability, or children to drop off and pick up, or just don’t like public transport, driving could be your only option.
But the problem comes when councils warn of an impending climate meltdown, while using taxpayer funds to subsidise diesel and petrol cars for staff.
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