Climate Emergency Action Plan 2026–2035

The Climate Emergency Action Plan 2026–2035 is Ambridge District Council’s most ambitious and far-reaching strategic document of the 2026 Municipal Year. Adopted by Cabinet on 3 June 2026 and subsequently endorsed by Full Council on 17 June 2026, the Plan sets out a comprehensive ten-year pathway for the Council to achieve net zero carbon in its own operations by 2035, and to support the Ambridge district as a whole to achieve net zero by 2050, consistent with the national target established under the Climate Change Act 2008 and reinforced by the Environment Act 2021.

The Plan begins with a foreword from the Leader, Councillor James Whitmore, acknowledging the progress made since the Council’s 2019 Climate Emergency Declaration — a 28% reduction in operational carbon emissions against the 2018/19 baseline — and setting out the ambition for the decade ahead. The baseline data section provides a granular breakdown of the Council’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions by source, showing that buildings (57% of emissions) and the vehicle fleet (26%) are the two largest contributors and therefore the primary focus for reduction action.

The action plan is organised into five thematic workstreams. The Buildings and Energy workstream commits to a deep retrofit of the Civic Centre by 2028, expansion of solar photovoltaic generation to 1.2 GWh per year by 2030, and decarbonisation of leisure centre heating by 2029. The Transport and Fleet workstream commits to a fully electric light vehicle fleet by 2028 and electric or hydrogen HGVs by 2032, alongside £300,000 per year of active travel infrastructure investment. The Waste workstream targets a 65% recycling rate by 2030. The Green Infrastructure workstream commits to planting 50,000 trees and designating 15 new Local Nature Reserves by 2030.

The Community and Business Engagement workstream establishes a Climate Action Fund for community groups, a district-wide home energy advice service, and a Business Climate Charter. Governance is provided by a Cross-Party Climate Emergency Steering Group, with annual public reporting to Full Council. The dedicated budget of £500,000 per year provides a firm financial foundation for delivery.