Action plan against climate change

Improved air quality, better housing and helping nature to thrive have been agreed as part of Swale Borough Council’s plan to support efforts to tackle climate change.

The climate and ecological emergency action plan was agreed by the council’s Environment and Climate Change committee at a meeting last night (18 March).

The council is committed to achieving borough wide carbon neutrality by 2045, the plan sets out how it plans to achieve this ambitious target.

The action plan outlines how the council will continue to lead by example - by reducing its own damaging carbon emissions achieving net-zero in its operations - and how it will work to encourage greater action across the borough through policies, services, and partnerships.

The council aim to achieve net-zero emissions (meaning emissions produced are offset by the carbon being removed from the atmosphere) from operations directly within its control and from purchasing electricity and heating by 2035.

The entire borough is planned to reach net-zero by 2045, along with the council’s emissions produced through supply chains when purchasing goods and services.

Climate change poses many serious risks to Swale, including extreme weather and heatwaves, droughts and water stress, increased pests and invasive species, sea levels rising putting homes at risk, and the loss of habitats and important biodiversity.

The council has outlined the seven key actions it will take to combat climate change to try and mitigate these negative effects on Swale, and the rest of the UK:

• reducing the council’s carbon footprint
• improve Swale’s air quality by promoting sustainable transport
• reduce carbon produced by Swale’s local industry
• promote well insulated and energy efficient homes and low carbon building
• increase recycling and reduce overall waste
• engage with and support communities through, partnership working and events
• preserve and enhance nature and ensure developments provide a biodiversity net gain

Cllr Tim Gibson, leader of Swale Borough Council, said:

“Climate change poses a very real threat to us all, it is causing our sea levels to rise and given that Swale has the longest stretch of coastline in Kent this is a very serious issue.

“We produce only 0.4% of Swale’s total emissions, and so while we will continue to lead by example, we have to work collaboratively with our communities and industries to achieve wider change.

“This action plan sets our ambitious carbon targets and outlines the measures we are going to take, the partnerships we need to form, and the work we will be doing to achieve them and create a healthier, greener Swale.”

Cllr Rich Lehmann, chair of the Environment and Climate Change committee, said:

“We know that the challenges ahead of us of achieving our net-zero goals are significant, but we are confident that doing so presents opportunity for the positive transformation of Swale.

“It will bring about stronger, more resilient communities, the development of a green economy and the creation of new jobs, which in turn can lead to reduced inequality, improvements in public health, and an overall enhancement in the quality of life for our residents.

“We would like to invite every individual and organisation that is part of our community to join us in achieving this by taking meaningful action now for a future that is both sustainable and prosperous.”

You can read the action plan here and see what the council will be doing to combat climate change.

Climate change and biodiversity loss is one of the greatest challenges of our time.

The scientific evidence of its ongoing and future impacts on the environment, public health, and economy are clear, beckoning immediate attention and action to protect both the natural world and the wellbeing of future generations.

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