Since we declared a climate emergency in 2019, a significant amount of work has been undertaken to work towards our climate change objectives. These are:
- To become a net zero authority;
- Reduce district-wide emissions by 55%, by 2030, and;
- To adapt to 3 degrees of warming by the end of the century, by 2050.
In 2024, the Cabinet adopted the Climate Change and Nature Recovery Strategy 2024-2029, which sets out the actions we will take to achieve our climate change objectives. Each year, we will also produce a delivery plan and progress report. Delivery plans have already been produced for 2025 and 2026, alongside the progress report for 2026. More information and document downloads can be found here: Climate Change and Nature Recovery Strategy
To give an overview, we have achieved the following so far:
- Our net zero projects have resulted in a combined annual emissions reduction of 1,665 tonnes of CO2e over the past 12 months. These include transitioning to using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in our waste collection fleet, and installing solar panels on Stratford and Shipston leisure centres.
- Distributed £250,000 of grant funding to local councils, charities and community groups through our Community Climate and Nature Fund. This enabled 53 climate change and biodiversity projects to be delivered across the District.
- Planted 2,000 trees and approximately one hectare of wildflowers through the Wilder Communities project, in partnership with the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
- Funded the planting of 29,000 for local farmers through the Free Trees for Farmers Scheme, and an additional 138 trees through our Free Trees for Town and Parish Councils scheme
- 21 of our officers and elected members have achieved Carbon Literate certification, certified by the Carbon Literacy project. This has allowed us to become a Bronze accredited Carbon Literate Organisation
- We have launched our Climate Resilient Stratford-on-Avon District scheme, providing an opportunity for ten organisations to have Climate Change Adaptation Action Plans produced on their behalf, and the provision of £10,000 in grant funding to each organisation to begin to implement the Action Plan
- We have relaunched our Local Climate Engagement Programme, to increase the range of support available to our Town and Parish Councils and community groups. A brand new website has also been launched to go alongside the programme, linked here: Home - Local Climate Engagement Programme
Over the next 12 months, we will aim to achieve the following:
- Install a solar car port canopy with associated battery storage infrastructure on the car park of Stratford Leisure Centre
- Complete the replacement of the windows with more energy efficient alternatives at Elizabeth House to increase the energy efficiency of the building.
- Distribute an additional £200,000 of grant funding to local councils, charities and community groups for green projects through the Community Climate and Nature Fund
- Install solar panels on an additional two of our leisure centres in Southam and Studley
- Continue to deliver the Wilder Communities project and Free Trees for Farmers Scheme. There is also an additional £34,383 still available for local councils through the Free Trees for Town and Parish Councils scheme
- Roll out additional Carbon Literacy training to up to 100 of our staff and elected members, in order to achieve Silver Carbon Literate Organisation status
- Continue the delivery of the Local Climate Engagement Programme
A full list of achievements and future objectives can be found here: Climate Change and Nature Recovery Strategy
Further details on specific areas are shown below.