Agenda item

To receive a report from the Head of Service for Finance, Property and Climate Resilience and the Climate and Sustainability Specialist on the Climate Strategy Action Plan.

Cabinet had before it a report * from the Head of Finance, Property & Climate Resilience and the Climate and Sustainability Specialist on the Climate Strategy Action Plan.

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change and Climate and Sustainability Specialist outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to the following:

• This was an important milestone for the Council.  The Climate Change Strategy and Climate Action Plan, was a response to the Council declaring a climate emergency in 2019 and the Council’s targets of achieving net zero by 2030.  
• Officers had worked persistently to bring this strategy together.  A Draft Climate Strategy was considered by the Planning, Environment and Sustainability Policy Development Group (PDG) on 26 November 2024 and was now recommended to Cabinet for approval.
• The Strategy was a starting point for engagement with communities, businesses and other partners, to co-create a vision for a sustainable future including the themes and expressed ambitions about the benefits for Mid Devon residents. 
• The Climate Change Strategy was aligned with the Corporate Strategy and with the Devon Carbon Plan, and related to all of the Council’s Policy Development Groups:

-       Planning, Environment and Sustainability- Vibrant landscapes at the heart of Mid Devon.

-       Community, People and Equalities- Climate Resilient Communities.

-       Homes- Healthy Homes.

-       Economy & Assets- Green Growth and Bright Futures.

-       Service Delivery & Continuous Improvement- Sustainable Services and Spending.

• Mid Devon's 2022 territorial carbon footprint, excluding land use change, was 907,684 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). The largest climate impacts came from:

-       Agriculture at 43% (394,256t), mainly from livestock farming; 

-       29% from transport (267,527t) almost all from road transport; and

-        9% from heating fuels in buildings (78,68t) with most of that (68,643t) from homes. 

• The Council's own organisational carbon footprint, the 2023-2024 emissions were 16,545 tCO2e. Components of the carbon footprint under direct control of the Council comprised only 2,103 tCO2e. 
• Potentially, Net Zero for the ‘direct control‘ footprint could be achieved by a combination of reducing the impact of what the Council could directly control (mitigation was the top priority) and by balancing actions that reduced the impact of the other elements in the wider footprint. The Climate Action Plan indicated ways that carbon emissions could be avoided, reduced offset and inset emissions.  
• Steps as a Council to further reduce it’s own footprint included:

Lower emissions for their fleets, facilities and services, Renewable energy projects and support for trees and habitat schemes which absorbed carbon.

• The Council only directly controlled a tiny fraction of the district's annual impact, but could influence a significant part of local activity and infrastructure. 
• In the years between now and 2030, a series of projects were set to deliver important reductions to the Council’s annual carbon footprint.

-       Renovating sports centres could save up to 200 tonnes per year.

-       Workplace energy efficiency could save up to 200 tonnes annually.

-       Replacing 57 vans with EV by 2030 would save over 140 tonnes annually.

-       More renewable energy projects could save 200 - 600 tonnes annually.

-       A programme to replace 22 old residential properties with Net Zero homes by 2030 would save up to 136 tonnes annually.

-       Renovating Council homes would save over 400 tonnes annually. 

• The next steps the Council couldlead and influence through best practice. In 2025 the Council intended to host Mid Devon’s first Climate Forum that would bring the Council’s strategy to communities, businesses and partners. This had to be a collective effort, working together and providing feedback to Central Government where it could see barriers to the necessary change. 

Discussion took place regarding:

• Did the Council have a policy about the use of weed killer?
• How serious were the Council about energy when there was a procurement process and measurement in place to be affordable moving towards net zero.
• The Council could lead by example. This would play a small part in making a difference to climate change.
• The importance of climate change and considerations about wind power, solar power and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Working towards net zero and the collaborative approach.
• The work that had gone into the Climate Strategy Action Plan and the great foundation this would provide in order to move forwards.
• How close were the Council to net zero for 2030?
• The Council to have a strong vision for a sustainable future.
• Cop29 fossil fuels that caused the problem. The ambitions of the Council and the importance for the community and changing the world.
• Should the focus be on resilience for the future?
• Flourishing and happiness within the community and the benefits this would have and the leadership was important.

RESOLVED that the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan as recommended by the Planning, Environment and Sustainability Policy Development Group be APPROVED.

(Proposed by the Cllr N Bradshaw and seconded by Cllr G DuChesne)

Reason for Decision:

The Council’s environmental sustainability duties are underpinned by legislation e.g. Environment Act 2021. All local authorities had obligations under the Climate Change Act 2008 with regard to climate change adaptation (resilience) and mitigation (emission reductions). Full Council declared a Climate Emergency in June 2019.

Note: * Report previously circulated.