CIVIC leaders have declared a climate emergency in Salisbury, just hours after protestors held a funeral for thousands of lost species.

Now the city council has promised to make the city as carbon neutral as possible by 2030, as well as it having “clean air” by 2022.

In a heated council meeting held in Salisbury’s Guildhall on Monday evening, councillors and members of climate group Extinction Rebellion argued that a climate emergency needed to be declared in order for changes to start being made.

It came after protestors walked across Market Place dressed in black, carrying placards, and holding a coffin, in tribute to the thousands of animals affected by climate change each year.

The procession was followed by a funeral service and a ‘die-in’ outside the Guildhall.

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As well as a tribute to wildlife, the protest group used the demonstration to urge the council to now treat climate change as an emergency.

READ MORE: Funeral held for extinct animals ahead of council meeting

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Watch clips from the funeral below, including part of the speech by Elizabeth Roberts and a chat with Sarah Prinsloo, both members of Extinction Rebellion Salisbury.

Following the funeral service, city council leader, Jeremy Nettle, who presented the climate motion in the meeting, described climate change as a “very, very important issue”, adding: “What we thought was going to be the future is actually today.”

He added: “If all of us were to do something about our change and the way we do things, as leader of the council I felt it even more important that the organisation I am a leader of should also do something and make a change.”

Cllr Nettle’s proposed plans for Salisbury include more pedestrianised areas, reducing vehicle emissions and calling on Wiltshire Council for resources, all in a bid to reach his carbon neutral and clean air targets.

The need to declare a climate emergency was firstly put forward in the meeting by Councillor Matthew Dean, who said: “I would like to propose that not only do we acknowledge Wiltshire Council’s declaring of climate change emergency, but Salisbury City Council declare a climate change emergency too.”

Cllr Dean also added his own suggestions for the motion, including improvements to the disposal of green waste and introducing more solar and hydro power to the city.

The proposal to declare a climate emergency received an overriding agreement from the rest of the council, with Cllr Nettle adding: “I was reluctant to use the word ‘emergency’ as to me that suggests a quick fix.”

He added: “What I wanted this motion to do is to live in this organisation and that is the important part, but I’m very happy if members do want us to include the word ‘emergency’ in that.”

Concerns surrounding the motion change included costs, time and the council’s restricted power to implement change, with Cllr Kevin Daley adding: “You’re trying to commit us to do all of this almost immediately, we can do this over time.

“There is no other country in the world who has reduced carbon emissions like we have, we’re great at doing it, but give us time. [A climate emergency] is the wrong statement and I am not voting for it.”

Cllr Daley’s views were interrupted by one of the Extinction Rebellion protestors calling out, “choosing money before death”.

Before the meeting vicar in the Salisbury Diocese, Canon Richard Hancock, who led the funeral procession, said: "As Salisbury Diocese is the first eco Diocese in the country I felt it right to support this peaceful protest.

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"We can’t delay in trying to effect a positive change to the environment to save our plant for all species and our children’s futures."