Climate Emergency and Ecological Considerations

Like many other Councils and organizations up and down the country, Portland Town Council has declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency, in response to the science now readily available to us all.  We did this in June 2019.  At that time we set about creating a Working Group made up of Councillors and Residents, who work together to explore and recommend initiatives to Full Council to fulfill its commitment to doing all that we reasonably can to reduce our impact on climate change and ecological degradation both here on Portland, but also nationally and globally.

To-date we have been able to:

• Support Portland 4 The Planet with planting many trees and native hedging across the Island
• Replace fuel powered gardening power tools with long lasting electrical equipment
• Provide our gardening team with an electrical vehicle to support their expanding needs
• Switch to a green energy supplier for our ancillary buildings (toilets, gardens shed/workshops)
• Review and improved recycling at the Portland Community Venue
• Write to government asking for more funding for Councils to be able to deliver on our declarations
• Write to Dorset Council Pension Fund Committee asking that they withdraw from fossil fuel investments
• Write to our MP asking that he support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill
• Ensure our responses to Planning Consultations reflect protection of the unique natural habitat found on Portland
• The Town Council will ensure robust environmental protection policies, which are updated regularly and within legal constraints to reflect any new scientific findings, are contained within the Neighbourhood Plan

As with many other organizations, our work slowed during lockdown, but as lockdown eases, we plan to:

• Continue to explore funding streams to install solar panels at our council offices (Portland Community Venue)
• Set up an Island composting scheme
• Install a bottle filler/drinking fountain at Easton Gardens, and 
• Purchase a water bowser to assist with watering our newly planted trees and native hedging
• Keep exploring environmentally-friendly options for all areas of the Council’s Services
• Manage our open and amenity spaces so as to minimize negative environmental impacts and to promote healthy ecosystems

To date, we have worked closely with both Portland 4 The Planet and Island Community Action and have supported their projects: Portland Pride Grown Local, Portland for the Planet Youth Project, and the Portland Hospital Allotment Project. 

Portland Town Council have adopted a Biodiversity Policy, which can be accessed here.

We welcome ideas and offers of help and support from the community in this work. Please get in touch with the office if you would like to know more, or get further involved.