South Gloucestershire Council is celebrating its progress and ambition as 17 July marks five years since the authority signed its climate and nature emergency declaration.
The council acknowledges that there is still work to be done, however the authority has come a long way over the past five years, and making the declaration has provided focus and brought climate considerations into all areas of the council’s work.
The council has been working across its departments and service areas, buildings and vehicles, as well as with local communities and businesses. In order to make South Gloucestershire prepared for future challenges, everyone in the area needs to help contribute.
Examples of action taken so far include:
• Planting over 25,000 new trees to increase the canopy cover in South Gloucestershire
• Exploring how our grass verges can be encouraged to grow more slowly, meaning they are cut less often, and areas become more biodiverse with clippings used to make green energy
• Investigating how the network of abandoned mines under South Gloucestershire could be used to heat and cool up to 25,000 homes
• Solar Together schemes have delivered 293 new, domestic solar photovoltaic (PV) installations and 52 new storage batteries between 2021 and 2023
• Supporting the implementation of 18 new Electric Vehicle charging points
• Working with The Circadian Trust to help fund the installation of solar PV panels at South Gloucestershire leisure centres
• Plans to publish a range of opportunities for Investment in Climate and Nature (iCaN) projects across South Gloucestershire
• Adapting council decision making to ensure better social and environmental outcomes are considered
• Aiming to encourage council suppliers to become Net Zero and provide opportunities to support them on their journey
• Success in securing significant external funding to develop these ideas with minimal impact on council resources.
Councillor Louise Harris, cabinet member responsible for the climate and nature emergency at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “We are really pleased with the progress that has been made over the past five years since this journey began. The council set itself ambitious targets and officers have stepped up to the challenge by embarking on a number of innovative projects to help reduce carbon and prepare the area for the future. Working independently and with partner organisations, businesses, communities and residents, we will continue to do everything we can to ensure we put the area in the very best position for future generations. Thanks must go to all our residents and other partners for their continued support as we make great strides along this vital journey together.”
To celebrate and encourage further action, South Gloucestershire Council is running a prize draw which calls-on residents to share their own stories of how they are supporting positive, environmental change. To find out further information and details of how to enter, visit www.southglos.gov.uk/climate-change-competition
For more information about the council’s work to tackle the climate and nature emergency visit www.southglos.gov.uk/thebigswitch
