Cornwall Council has declared a climate emergency - and will now prepare for urgent actions to help limit global temperature increase.

Campaigners with the group Extinction Rebellion, who were at county hall as Councillors discussed the issue today, have welcomed the local authority’s stance.

Cornwall Council aims for the county to be carbon neutral by 2030 and will now draw up plans which will help limit global warming to 1.5 degrees celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The effects of climate change were already being felt in Cornwall, said cabinet member for the Environment Councillor Sue James, referring to the floods in Coverack. She said that everyone had a part to play in helping to reduce carbon emissions, from the Council investing in renewable energy and public transport to individuals choosing to eat less meat and mend things rather than throw them away.Klaudia van Gool, who is from Pensilva and a spokesperson for the Extinction Rebellion group, said: ‘After lengthy debate, it was great to see such tremendous, nearly unanimous support for this motion.

’Human activity has led to this crisis and we have an urgent responsibility to change our current path for the sake of all our children. Cornwall Council has already shown foresight and leadership in addressing climate breakdown. Now they have taken a step further, and can continue to work with the relevant authorities to really turn this situation around now before it is too late.’

About 15 people from South East Cornwall joined a crowd of 70 from Extinction Rebellion and other local environmental groups from around Cornwall in Truro outside today’s full council meeting.