FOLLOWING on from COP26, Stratford District Council (SDC) is highlighting the work towards its commitment to achieving net zero by 2030 in the district.
So far, a joint action programme has been agreed with Warwick District Council – with which SDC is planning to merge – to make the best use of joint resources, while tackling more issues local to Stratford district.
There are three main aims:
– Net Zero Carbon Council by 2025: to ensure the new South Warwickshire Council is net zero carbon within a year of its first elections while services provided through contractors include carbon reduction targets to deliver net zero by 2030.
– Low Carbon South Warwickshire 2030: to reduce net carbon emissions from across South Warwickshire by a minimum of 55 per cent by 2030 and aim to further reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.
– Adaptation 2050: by 2050 to enable our environment and communities to have adapted to the potential of at least a three degrees rise in global temperatures by 2100.
SDC climate change spokesman Ian Shenton has also advised simple actions people can do on a domestic level. They include avoiding leaving the tap running when cleaning teeth, recycling as much as possible, reduced car use and meat consumption and buying loose fruit and veg.
He said: “These may be small things but collectively they mount up and, as far as waste goes, the less that goes to landfill causing greenhouse gas – such as methane which is up to 30 times worse than CO2 emissions – the better.
“Over the coming months we will be putting lots of messages out via social media, the local media, in our council tax booklet delivered with council tax bills and using bin hangers – little paper hangers that are hung on your dustbin.
“Also look out for our new dedicated website and our ‘one small thing’ campaign.”
One project SDC is currently delivering is in Wootton Wawen. Government funding is being used to improve insulation on 12 park homes, making them warmer and cheaper to heat as well as helping to reduce carbon emissions. It is hoped that more funding will be available in the coming months as further grant schemes become available.
Other work includes the South Warwickshire Plan, which will incorporate policies that support the council’s climate change ambitions, including delivering adaptable and net zero carbon developments and, wherever possible, ensuring infrastructure is in place to support low carbon lifestyles.
Coun Shenton added: “We all have to adapt to climate change and play our part. As a district council we are only able to influence the areas that are in our gift and areas of our responsibility, which is challenging especially having to rely on others in some cases.
“We have a beautiful world worth saving for future generations to enjoy, just as current and previous generations have enjoyed and any actions large or small will help towards this.”
