Report by Executive Director for Economic Growth & Neighbourhood Services

The Executive Director for Economic Growth & Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on the Global Covenant of Mayors for Energy and Climate (GCoM), which was the largest global alliance for city climate leadership, built upon the commitment of over 11,500 cities and local governments around the world. These cities, drawn from six continents and 142 countries, collectively represented more than 1 billion people and were united by a shared long-term vision to support voluntary action to combat climate change. The stated mission of GCoM was as follows:

‘We envision a world where committed mayors and local governments – in alliance with partners – accelerate, ambitious, measurable climate and energy initiatives that lead to a low-emission and climate-resilient future’.

The report proposed that Reading Borough Council should join GCoM as a further expression of its commitment to ambitious climate action, and to access the practical associated benefits. The GCoM would require a letter of commitment, which was attached at Appendix 1 to the report, to be ‘signed by an appropriately mandated official according to local governmental procedure’.

The following motion was moved by Councillor Page and seconded by Councillor Davies and CARRIED:

Resolved –

(1)           That the achievements of the Council and its partners in the Reading Climate Change Partnership in taking forward successive climate change strategies for Reading, as summarised in paragraphs 3.5-3.6 of the report, be noted;

(2)           That the Leader of the Council be authorised to sign the letter of commitment, attached at Appendix 1 of the report, to enable the Council to join the Global Covenant of Mayors for Energy and Climate.