A CLIMATE emergency is set to be declared by Argyll and Bute Council as the local authority affirms its commitment to tackling the environmental crisis.

The Advertiser understands that a motion will be proposed by Douglas Philand, independent councillor for Mid Argyll, before a meeting of the full council at the end of this month.

Although the full details of the motion have yet to be finalised, Cllr Philand will seek backing from his colleagues for the council to join 21 other Scottish local authorities in confirming their position.

He told the Advertiser: “If the council are taking a lead role then I think, and I hope, that that might reverberate with others.

“We have to take a lead role with this. It would show to residents that we are taking this seriously.

“We all have to take this seriously.”

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Cllr Philand has been working closely with campaign group Time for Change Argyll and Bute, who say that the move to declaring a climate emergency would be a significant and much welcome step.

A spokesperson said: “We have been helping Cllr Philand draft the motion, which includes a commitment from the council to fully divest their pension fund from the fossil fuel industry, inspired by West Dunbartonshire Council’s declaration of a climate emergency in 2019.

“If the motion is passed, we will warmly welcome this as a sign that the council acknowledges the extreme urgency of the climate crisis and is committed to doing everything within its power to mitigate and reverse the changes we are already seeing.

“Although the declaration of a climate emergency is not legally binding, it is a reflection of the attitude of the council towards strong climate action, and sends a message to both the residents of Argyll and Bute, and the Scottish and UK Governments that dealing with the climate crisis is everyone’s responsibility, especially those in positions of power.”

Heather Munro, of the Cardross Climate Action Network, also hailed the move.

She said: “Unless global carbon emissions are cut by half by 2030, we say goodbye to the possibility of keeping global warming under 1.5 degrees. That means we all have to act now: councils, as well as governments, communities and individuals.

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“Declaring a climate emergency means the climate crisis will be a factor in every decision.

“Every penny the council spends will need to be shown to be consistent with net zero targets. Every council staff member and elected representative will be trained in carbon literacy, and every planning decision will ensure our built environment becomes net zero. We’ll make full use of our enormous potential for renewable energy, and all our public transport will be decarbonised.”

Meanwhile, Helensburgh and Lomond South Councillor Richard Trail (SNP), offered his support for the motion.

He said: “It is quite clear that the climate is changing and the scientists are clear that it is due to human activity.

“We know that action needs to be taken now to avert a disaster to the detriment of our children and future generations.

“The council is already taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint, changing heating systems in our buildings, installing solar panels and so on.

“This work has started and it will take time for the benefits to become clear.

“Passing this motion is not the starting gun for new action, it will be confirmation of our commitment to addressing the biggest issue facing our world.”