Our new environmentally-focused Green Team has announced its top ten targets to boost our battle against climate change.
As a council, we are determined to reduce our carbon emissions and limit our impact on the environment.
To help us achieve these goals we have set up a ‘Green Team’, a group of officers embedded across the council, and they will be working on a check list of ten top priorities.
The Action Plan, to be discussed at EHDC’s Cabinet meeting on Thursday, ranges from reducing the council’s carbon footprint to zero, to helping residents and businesses with their own environmental standards.
Cllr Robert Mocatta, EHDC Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, said: “There is so much that can be done to improve environmental performance it can feel like a daunting task. That’s why it is important to focus on the issues closest to home that we have control over and that can make the biggest difference in the shortest time.
“As a council we must concentrate on our own situation, we must provide an example for others, and we must support our residents and businesses in their efforts to cut carbon and tackle climate change.
“This ten-point action plan doesn’t cover everything that could be done but clearly sets out our priorities and how we intend to achieve them.”
Here is the list in full:
1) Support local action
Launch our Community Climate Action Fund and run a Let’s Talk community event focusing on green issues
2) Increase East Hampshire sustainability and recycling
Target waste contamination and promote recycling
3) Help East Hampshire households increase energy efficiency
Help residents find grants and provide interest-free loans for energy-saving home improvements
4) Help East Hampshire businesses increase energy efficiency
Help businesses achieve net zero and become more sustainable
5) Our Greenest Local Plan
Work on zero carbon homes and encourage sustainable travel through our planning system.
6) Enhance our natural environment and improve biodiversity
Develop biodiversity projects through our proposed community farm project, called Grow Up! and continue our plan to see 120,000 trees planted in East Hampshire
7) Encourage sustainable and active transport
Develop walking and cycling routes and promote electric vehicles and charging networks
8) New, environmentally-friendly head office – New Barn
Include solar panels, electric vehicles and a workplace travel plan for staff
9) Reduce our own carbon footprint to achieve net zero by 2050
Measure our carbon footprint, set realistic targets on carbon emissions and ensure our leisure facilities are net zero by 2030
10) Ensure that Climate Change is embedded within the council
Embed the Green Team across the council