A refreshed plan for how Basingstoke and Deane takes action on the climate crisis and reaches net zero by 2045 has been approved. 

The borough’s updated Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy was adopted last night (Tuesday 9 December) by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to guide local efforts, including its own, to cut carbon as quickly as possible. 

The move comes as the council nears its own target to be a carbon-neutral organisation in December 2025. The ambitious aim was agreed by councillors in 2019 when they unanimously called to declare a climate emergency for Basingstoke and Deane. 

Work to refresh the original strategy, adopted in 2021, began last December to build on progress since the declaration. That includes the council cutting its carbon by around two thirds and the borough’s emissions falling by 25.1%, a bigger drop than anywhere else in mainland Hampshire. 

A video published today (Wednesday 10 December) on the council’s Facebook and X @BasingstokeGov accounts sees Cabinet Member for Climate and Ecological Emergency Cllr Chris Tomblin highlight some of the successes so far. 

To guide efforts going forward, the borough’s updated strategy maps out a new pathway to reach net zero by 2045. Ambitious but realistic, it was shaped by councillors, communities and companies following extensive technical work with climate experts at The Carbon Trust. 

To keep the borough on track towards its goal, the refreshed plan introduces indicative milestones and brings together a new partnership – including the council, NHS, housing associations and businesses – to monitor progress on them and take action together. 

The strategy focuses efforts on six areas: generating zero-carbon electricity, heating and powering buildings efficiently, sustainable travel, nurturing nature to help wildlife and capture carbon, consuming less and reusing more, and enabling people and businesses to act. 

Cllr Chris Tomblin said: “Everyone who lives and works in Basingstoke and Deane has a part to play if we are to protect our borough and its natural environment for future generations. And, as this newly updated strategy covers, I am keen and committed that this council keeps working hard to make a difference. 

“That includes continuing to lead by example to stay on track to meet our target to be a carbon-neutral council at the end of this year. We should know for certain if the council has met its ambitious aim next summer, when the final carbon figures are expected to be available. 

“We will also continue to enable and inspire others to make changes too, building on our good track record including being named earlier this year by charity Climate Emergency UK as the joint-best district council in the country for how well we collaborate with others on climate action. 

“This updated strategy is the result of a year’s hard work and input from technical experts, partners, communities, councillors and companies. The borough has already made great progress and I am confident it will give us all the guidance we need to go further faster in the future to help Basingstoke and Deane meet its challenging but achievable net zero pledge.”

The borough’s updated net zero strategy can be read at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/climate-change-air-quality-strategy.

More information about the council’s climate action is at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/climate