At Full Council today, Cornwall Councillors voted to declare a Cornwall Ecological Emergency.

The motion, put forward by Constantine, Mabe & Mawnan councillor John Bastin and Mevagissey and St Austell Bay councillor James Mustoe called on Cornwall Council to declare an Ecological Emergency and then takes action accordingly to protect, conserve and grow Cornwall’s eco-systems.

Cllr Bastin said:

“I am delighted to see my fellow Cornwall Councillors join me in supporting our motion for Cornwall Council to declare an Ecological Emergency for Cornwall today. This will allow Cornwall Council to add its own considerable weight to our partners, such as the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership, in bringing forward all measures that help to strengthen nature. I know Cornwall Council is fully committed to playing its part in delivering nature recovery for all our sakes and today’s motion will help us in the journey to achieve this.”

Cllr Mustoe said: 

“I am delighted to see Cornwall Council vote to declare an Ecological Emergency for Cornwall today. As a keen environmentalist I am always looking for opportunities to ensure Cornwall Council is on the top of its game in the fight for our environment.

“The statistics around this motion are scary- we are seeing species being lost across Cornwall at an alarming rate, and today’s motion formalises the council’s response, joining us with partners for a combined approach to addressing the decline of our natural environment, and working with our existing resources to take action accordingly.”

“With the recent COP26 in Glasgow, it has never been more appropriate to declare an ecological emergency, and today’s motion does just that, while highlighting the existing work that is taking place and the need to do more.”