Huntingdonshire District Council has adopted a climate strategy and acknowledged the climate crisis and ecological emergency.
A Climate Strategy was adopted at a meeting of Full Council on 22 February. This strategy includes a plan for council operations to reach net carbon zero by 2040. It also outlines how the council will support and encourage local people to take climate action.
The priorities included in the Climate Strategy were shaped by analysis of local emissions data and expert advice as well as feedback from residents, children, communities, businesses, and partners.
The strategy explains how the district council will act as a positive example by reducing consumption of energy and fossil fuels. The council aims to achieve this in part by:
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improving the energy efficiency of council buildings
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taking opportunities to install renewable energy
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reducing council vehicle emissions.
Executive Councillor for Climate and Environment, Councillor Lara Davenport-Ray, said: "In October 2022 this council passed a motion highlighting the joint challenges of climate change and the cost-of-living crisis. This February our council took several steps forward in tackling these issues.
"We have now formally recognised the Climate Crisis and Ecological Emergency. In direct response to these urgent challenges, we have also adopted a Climate Strategy. Our Strategy contains a roadmap to bring council operations to net carbon zero by 2040. It also makes clear our ambition to enable and encourage local people to take their own climate action.
"To bring all of this work together, we have committed to an annual Climate Conversation. Each year we will review our work and ask local people to help design our future climate action. The Joint Administration is determined to create a better Huntingdonshire for current residents and future generations.”
You can view the Climate Strategy [PDF, 4MB]
To see what we are already doing visit our Climate Strategy page.
News article: 23 February 2024