One of the most influential environmentalists in the UK has praised councillors in Stafford Borough for backing a national campaign aimed at protecting rivers and ocean.

Stafford Borough Council voted to approve a report outlining a series of steps put forward in a motion to the full council. It meant the local authority became the latest to support the national ‘Motion for the Ocean’ campaign.

The ‘Motion for the Ocean’ highlights the essential actions that councils must take, recognising the source-to-sea link between local waterways and the ocean and the effects on the local economy and communities.

Stafford Borough has now joined 26 councils across the country who have passed a ‘Motion for the Ocean’ - which has been applauded by award-winning conservationist and ocean expert, Emily Cunningham.

Stafford-born Emily has already racked up several awards including winner of a ‘Women of the Future Award’ last year for her ocean conservation work and potential for global impact - and was recognised as one of “30 under 30” global environmental leaders by the North American Association for Environment Education for her work to enable a wider range of people to enjoy and take action to protect our coasts and seas.

And this week she has been named on the 2024 ENDS Power List of the UK's top 100 most impactful environmental professionals - being described as the “relentless driving force” behind the ‘Motion for the Ocean’ Local Government Ocean Recovery Declaration.

The co-founder of the #Motion4theOcean movement said: “The burden of taking care of our ocean is often left to communities at the coast; but they are at the end of the line, receiving litter and pollution from inland communities like ours. Actions that we take here in the Midlands can have a significant impact, benefitting local and coastal communities alike. This admirable environmental leadership from SBC councillors recognises that no matter where we live, we impact, and are impacted by, ocean health.

“I’m thrilled to see my hometown join our growing movement! I applaud the councillors and look forward to seeing what they achieve together with local partners and our communities.”

Councillor Jack Rose, who proposed the council motion, said: “Councillors across the political spectrum have regularly heard concerns about the health of local rivers. Unfortunately, our rivers are a cocktail mix of agricultural runoff and human waste from water companies dumping sewage into our watercourses.

“In my village of Great Haywood the river is so polluted that it poses a risk to human health - and residents of Stafford Borough have a right to enjoy our local rivers without that risk.”

He added: “The health of our local rivers also has a direct impact on the health of our nation’s oceans. With coastal communities being at the ‘bottom end’ of what is allowed into our rivers.

“The principal aims of this ‘Motion’ is to closely involve water companies in the planning process so that new developments do not lead to sewage overflow. It also asks for an ecological survey of our local rivers so we know what wildlife is present and how we can protect and enhance what exists.”

The local authority agreed a report earlier this year making it the twenty-seventh council, ranging from parish to county councils, to have now passed the ’Motion for the Ocean.’  The ‘Motion’ has recently gained attention from local authorities overseas and was presented at the recent UN Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona.

Experts created the ‘Motion for the Ocean’ in response to the decline in the state of our ocean, recognising that local authorities have a unique and significant role to play in reversing this trend and helping recover the health of our ocean. The ocean provides every second breath we take, food on our plates, the gas and electricity we rely on, climate regulation, and is a source of joy, calm and leisure for many and without action, we stand to lose many of these functions with major impacts on human health, wellbeing and economies. The ‘Motion for the Ocean’ is the catalyst for turning the tide.

Press Release 6131