New Vale plan to tackle emissions set for approval

A major new action plan aimed at cutting carbon emissions could be given the go-ahead next week.

Tackling the climate emergency is a key priority for Vale of White Horse District Council, which aims to become a carbon neutral council by 2030.  This means, thanks to the actions put in place, the carbon produced from the council’s buildings and services will be balanced by the amount removed from the atmosphere.

On 4 February Cabinet members will consider the council’s draft Climate Action Plan, which sets out the steps the Vale will take to achieve this target.

The Plan details actions the council will take to reduce its emissions, including moving to a digital by default approach for meetings, specific training for staff and councillors, and ensuring that the environment is a key factor in determining how the council makes its investments.  The plan also outlines how the council will support local efforts to tackle the climate emergency. 

The draft plan follows significant work from officers and councillors, along with feedback from parish councils and local climate action groups. When they consider whether the council should adopt the Plan, Cabinet members will review feedback from the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee which met earlier this month.

To ensure the council is open about its progress towards the actions in the Climate Action Plan, officers will carry out quarterly reviews and provide reporting to the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee and Cabinet.

Cllr Catherine Webber, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Environment, at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “Our residents have been quite clear that tackling the climate emergency is really important to them.  While our Corporate Plan prioritises climate action it’s very important that we now agree a series of realistic steps that will help us to achieve our carbon neutral targets and ensure we provide key support for local and countywide efforts to tackle the climate emergency.”

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For more information, and to view the draft Climate Action Plan, see the Cabinet Meeting Page.

To find out more about climate action in the Vale of White Horse, visit whitehorsedc.gov.uk/climateaction