Climate Change - what are we doing?

Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy

The council has adopted a new Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy. This proposed strategy sets out a framework for action for the council to tackle climate change and air quality locally. Actions will be categorised in six areas:

• Action by all - how to help everyone in the borough to contribute
• Buildings - tackling emissions from heating and powering our buildings
• Transport - tackling emissions from vehicles
• Zero carbon electricity - supporting the transition to a decarbonised electricity system
• Waste and consumption - reducing waste and consumption
• The natural environment - maximising the climate mitigation and adaptation qualities of the natural environment

Alongside this new strategy is an Action Plan, setting out what the council are doing or will do in each area.

Our progress to date

The drive to become a carbon neutral borough by 2030 starts now and we have started work to set out the steps we as a council can take and how we can work together as a borough.

In December 2019, we held a climate change summit to bring together ideas with partners. View a copy of the climate change summit presentation (opens in a new window) (PDF) [5,320kb] and the climate change summit Outcomes Report (opens in a new window) (PDF) [1,504kb].

Already we have:

• Installed solar panels on the roof of several of our council buildings.
• Introduced electric vehicle charging points and a number of electric vehicles into our own council fleet.
• Improved the energy performance of the council’s Deanes and Parklands buildings.
• Switched to a renewable energy supply contract.
• Set up a group of Environment Champions to promote sustainable practices among staff.
• Installed a fresh air cooling system at the Civic Offices, as well as being environmentally-friendly, the initiative will generate a saving of £9,500 per year.
• Introduced fines for idling vehicles.
• Reduced the distances our bin trucks travel by rebalancing the rounds, with a monthly carbon saving of 3.8% per month.

With partners, we have:

• Adopted a transport strategy with a focus on encouraging more sustainable transport including cycling and walking.
• Introduced a campaign to prevent idling cars creating air pollution.
• Given out loans and grants to improve insulation and install renewable energy sources.
• Supported residents to apply for government funding for energy efficient boilers.
• Supported the production of toolkits on how to set up a local climate action group and a community energy project, with Sustainable Overton.
• Teamed up with Hampshire County Council and other local authorities in Hampshire for Solar Together – a group-buying solar scheme for residents.

Next steps

We are working on our next steps looking at greener ways of delivering council services. Here are just a few of the projects we are working on:

• With advice from the Energy Savings Trust we are exploring greater use of electric vehicles.
• Updating our Local Plan to ensure tougher standards associated with climate change and emissions.
• Reviewing the energy efficiency of our accommodation and our staff and councillors’ travel.
• Increasing opportunities for smarter working.
• Delivering 3,500 homes at Manydown using the Garden Towns’ principle.
• Exploring opportunities for businesses to develop low carbon solutions.

Contact the team