Climate Change Strategy
We have made a commitment to address the global climate and ecological emergency and tackle climate change. Our ambition is for the Council to be Net Zero by 2030, and to support the District in becoming Net Zero by 2050.
Our ambition is supported by the Climate Change Strategy, which provides a vision for a Green Recovery, post Covid 19 to create sustainable communities, low carbon transport networks and a thriving local economy.
The Climate Change Strategy identifies 6 key themes:
- Reducing CO2 emissions.
- Protecting the environment and enhancing biodiversity.
- De-carbonising travel and transport.
- Reducing waste and resource use and moving to a circular economy.
- Support sustainable communities.
- Behaviour change and education.
It is essential that we significantly reduce carbon emissions through greater energy efficiency the use of renewable energy, as well as supporting communities to adapt to a changing climate and more frequent extreme weather events.
Whilst we still need to meet housing targets, we will need to use our influence to reduce emissions by encouraging and enabling the construction of zero carbon homes with on-site renewable energy. This will provide sustainable, lifelong housing that achieves very high levels of energy efficiency and ultra low carbon emissions.
In both new and existing communities, we want to create more space for nature, increase biodiversity, improve our parks and green spaces and enable greater active travel through development of more walking and cycling routes.
Supporting the Climate Change Strategy are two Net Zero Action Plans which replace the original Carbon Neutral Action Plan (2020). The first will set out how we intend to reach Net Zero as a Council by 2030. The second (in development) will focus on actions we can take across the District to support reaching Net Zero by 2050 if not sooner. Both will be reviewed and updated annually to ensure that progress is maintained and we adapt to emerging technologies and national policy.
The Climate Change Strategy and Net Zero Plan can be downloaded below.
You can do your bit by using the Switch and Save service, which uses the power of collective switching to help you go green and save money on your energy bills.
A new round of sign-ups has started for you to get a better deal on gas and electricity. Find out more on the Switch and Save webpage.