Council adopts refreshed Climate and Nature Strategy

Denbighshire County Council has adopted a refreshed plan to tackling climate change and nature recovery locally .

At a meeting of the Full Council on July 9 members agreed to adopt the refreshed Climate and Nature Strategy (2021/22-2029/30) [formally known as Climate and Ecological Change Strategy].

Denbighshire County Council declared a Climate Change and Ecological Emergency in July 2019 which committed the Council to become Net Carbon Zero by 2030 at the latest and improve biodiversity across the county.

The original strategy was adopted in February 2021 which committed the Council to become a Net Carbon Zero and Ecologically Positive Council by 2030 in addition to reducing carbon emissions from the goods and services bought  (by the Council’s supply chain) by 35 percent by 2030.

Denbighshire County Council’s constitution was also changed in October 2020 to make sure all decisions must now ‘have regard to tackling Climate and Ecological Change’.

The first of a three yearly strategy review period took place during 2023 and the first part of 2024 involving engagement from public and partners which has resulted in a refreshed strategic plan to tackling climate change and nature recovery locally .

This includes:

A change of name from Denbighshire County Council’s Climate and Ecological Change Strategy to Climate and Nature Strategy following feedback from public engagement.

Three new sections acknowledging the wider influence the Council can have in bringing about change in this agenda across the county includes ‘Reducing emissions and increasing carbon absorption across Denbighshire’, ‘Increasing our climate risk resilience across the county’ and ‘Nature Recovery across Denbighshire’.

The Introduction of a technical appendix as a place to include history of completed activities and more in-depth information about performance to date.

Following the approval of the refreshed strategy Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for the Environment, Highways and Transport said: “I am pleased the Council has agreed to adopt a refreshed approach to continue tackling the impact of climate change on our county and our local nature.

“The review of the Climate Change Programme strategy showed we have made good progress in key areas including biodiversity, reducing fleet and public transport carbon emissions and lowering emissions from our Council building estates.

“As all local authorities in Wales and across the UK, we are facing challenging budget pressures and whilst our progress is a positive one against the climate actions, we are aware that the pace of change now is not currently at the level we need to meet our 2030 targets.

“We recognise it will not be easy to meet our 2030 goals, but we very much retain this ambition and have kept our existing targets as we go into the next three years of our strategy.

“We also know that much of the work being carried out for this agenda has additional benefits. Actions to lower carbon emissions often also help reduce costs for the Council, and increasing biodiversity for nature also creates important spaces for health and wellbeing, education and leisure for our local communities.

“We are highly committed to go as far as we can and as fast as we can, with the resources we have at hand to continue making a contribution to tackling climate change and delivering nature’s recovery for the well-being and protection of our current communities, staff and partners and for future generations to come.”

The refreshed strategy will be published at  https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/environmental-health/climate-and-ecological-change/climate-and-ecological-change.aspx