Moray Council has been urged to form a “climate change group” to drive forward environmentally-friendly policies.
Two SNP councillors have filed a motion for the issue to be discussed next week at the final full council meeting before the summer break.
Speyside Glenlivet representative, Louise Laing, and Fochabers councillor, David Bremner, have urged fellow members to recognise that climate change is an “ecological emergency” and have encouraged their colleagues to become more serious about taking action to protect the planet.
They have also called on the local authority to form a climate change group comprising officers and elected representatives, to spearhead eco-friendly strategies.
Mrs Laing was inspired to lodge the motion by a series of protests which have been held outside of the council building in recent weeks.
She said: “It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while, ever since we passed the motion to phase out single-use plastic throughout the council.
“I’ve been out speaking to the protestors outside the building and working with them on this motion as well.
“The council needs to consider the environment in every decision we make, and every department can do something about this.”
A group of young climate change protestors inspired by Greta Thunberg, and calling themselves Moray Climate Action, are holding regular demonstrations on Fridays outside the council annexe.
In addition to that, the Extinction Rebellion Moray (Forres) Group will be presenting a petition to elected members before the full council meeting on Thursday encouraging them to declare the climate and ecological emergency.
John Lardner, a member of the group, highlighted the importance of the local authority taking swift action to battle the ongoing problem.
He said: “Climate change, or global heating, will change everything and we will often do anything to avoid it – including denying the evidence that is all around us.
“Acting to make global heating manageable means first recognising the problem and it is a challenge that demands an emergency response.
“If Moray Council recognises the reality of the climate and ecological emergency, then it can assist us making the needed changes.
“For the sake of our children, grandchildren and future generations let’s show them we care.”
The motion will be discussed at the full council meeting on Thursday, with a protest being held outside the building at 1.30pm.
