Moray Council declares a 'nature emergency'

MORAY is in a "nature emergency", the Council has declared.

At a full Council meeting yesterday (Thursday, February 2), members agreed that climate change's impact on nature had become an emergency.

The declaration recognises threats to nature, its social value and highlights the urgent need to aid its recovery and restoration.

Brought to full council through a notice of motion by Councillor Draeyk Van Der Horn (Forres, Green), elected members backed its declaration bid unanimously.

Before the meeting climate campaigners held a demonstration outside the Council chambers to back the motion.

Councillors amended the motion, however, to ask Council leader Councillor Kathleen Robertson (Forres, Conservative) to write to COSLA asking for more Scottish Government cash to battle the emergency.

During the meeting, members also welcomed the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, which brings statutory targets for public bodies, including local authorities, to meet the challenges of the nature crisis.

Yesterday's declaration follows on from the Council’s declaration of a climate emergency in 2019.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Van Der Horn said: “The decision shows how we can act together as a council, recognising the importance of nature emergency, so we can all act and work together on restoring our natural world.”

Cllr Robertson added: “I am pleased that officers will bring back a report on the impact of the nature emergency to a further committee and I look forward to the response from COSLA for more resources to address this matter.”

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