DORSET Council is being asked to step up its commitment to tackling climate change.

A public question to next week’s Cabinet meeting asks the authority to follow the example of neighbours Wiltshire and Somerset and sign up to the UK100 pledge to bring council emissions to zero earlier than currently planned.

Charmouth parish councillor Andrew Carey says in his question to the Tuesday September 7th meeting: “Cllr Ray Bryan has publicly stated his intention (Dorset Council website, May 25, 2021) to: "make Dorset the greenest county in England.

“The UK100 pledge says: “We will bring our council emissions to Net Zero by 2030* and we will work with our residents and businesses to bring our wider communities’ emissions in line with Net Zero as soon as possible (and by 2045* at the latest). Dorset Council's target dates of 2040 and 2050 fall well short of this pledge.

“Wiltshire Council, Somerset County Council and Cornwall Council are among 13 county councils that have already signed the UK100 pledge (as well as many district, town and city councils). Dorset Council has not. Dorset is therefore not even among the 13 greenest counties in England. Given the urgent call for action in the IPCC's latest Climate Change report, will Dorset Council now support Cllr Bryan’s aspiration and sign the UK100 pledge?”