Climate Change Strategy

We have made a commitment to tackle climate change. Our ambition is for the Council to be carbon neutral by 2030, and the district carbon neutral 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.

There are six aims of the strategy:

1. CO₂ Emissions and the impact of climate change
2. Protecting the environment
3. Travel and Transport
4. Waste and Resources – Moving to a circular economy
5. Sustainable communities
6. Behaviour Change and Education

It is important to significantly reduce carbon emissions through 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 develop more walking and cycling routes.

Supporting the strategy is a detailed action plan to monitor progress and ensure its success, refreshed every year to ensure that we keep up to date with emerging technologies and national policy.

The Climate Change Strategy and Carbon Neutral Action 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.