The Vale of Glamorgan Council has declared a Nature Emergency.

In a full council meeting held yesterday (26 July), councillors agreed to the declaration that sets a target of no net loss of biodiversity in the Vale by placing biodiversity alongside climate change at the heart of the council's decision-making.

The declaration also will ensure the Council will have the powers and resources to achieve this target by working with and making representations to the Welsh and UK Governments, and developing a strategy in line with Project Zero.

The motion was submitted by Councillors Lis Burnett and Neil Thomas.

"Two years ago, council declared climate emergency," said Cllr Burnett.

"Much work and many conversations have happened since that evening in 2019, not as much as we would have liked, but we didn't expect a global pandemic.

"I think most of us recognise that climate change and nature are inextricably linked however in those consultations and conversations people were clear that we should be much more explicit.

"There are things that we can do at a County and individual level.

Protecting biodiversity is as important as tackling climate change."

The motion was agreed by a unanimous vote, but there was some discussion of what the declaration would actually mean for the council.

Cllr Ian Johnson was concerned that the declaration should be more than "warm words that won't make a difference".

"I hope that everybody will be supportive of this tonight.

"However, the suggestion that we as a council are putting nice words forward while not acting on that is an accusation that has been made by many people in recent weeks.

"Our Local Development Plan has many points about improving biodiversity.

"In that context, I would really like to know what difference passing this motion will make on developments, legal protections, and how we operate.

"There were nine people who voted for Model Farm, I'm hoping they do vote for this motion tonight."

The controversial Model Farm redevelopment agreed by the planning committee earlier this month will see a business park built on third-generation farmland in Rhoose.

Cllr Kevin Mahoney also questioned how declaring a nature emergency aligned with the Local Development Plan.

"I'd be very surprised if anyone disagreed with the sentiment, but there will be accusations of virtue signalling.

"People will ask what we have done since declaring the climate emergency.

"Voting to build over Model Farm and we're currently having a massive housing estate built on much needed farmland in Sully.

"The Vale's own LDP advocated building over masses of land at Cosmeston and elsewhere.

"I would support this motion, but there's no point just having words. Do you actually believe it?"

Cllr Peter King said it was not virtue signalling, which is expressing opinions just to demonstrate moral correctness on an issue, but "taking leadership and setting examples."

Cllr Thomas raised the need for farming to be included in the nature emergency declaration.

"Farming is often held up as one of the supports of biodiversity, but the reverse is too often the case," he said.

"Monocluturecrops growing and grazing where indigenous plants are eradicated create ecological, green-coloured deserts.

"This motion should encourage farmers and landowners to look for ways to improve their management of the land to support our natural diversity."

The Vale Council's declaration of a nature emergency follows the Senedd's own at the start of this month.