Purpose of this consultation
Cheshire East Council recognised the climate emergency in 2019 and committed to becoming carbon neutral for its own emissions. An action plan was developed and approved, and we are on course to deliver that target.
However, we recognise that the council’s own emissions represent a tiny proportion of the overall carbon footprint of Cheshire East and so in 2022 a decision was taken to join the UK100 and sign up to the pledge to be carbon neutral as a borough by 2045.
A carbon baseline and menu of options quantified the scale of challenge and laid out the ways in which these emissions could be tackled, this then provided the background data for the development of a five-year action plan.
The initial draft of the 2024-29 Wider Borough Carbon Action Plan is the subject of this consultation as we seek feedback from residents and businesses within Cheshire East about the priorities and actions we have identified.
The effects of climate change are already being felt around the world and here in the UK, with new records being set each year on temperatures and storm damage. The need to reduce emissions has never been starker. The road to carbon neutrality will not only reduce Cheshire East's contribution to climate change but have the additional benefits of improving the wellbeing of residents with warmer, healthier homes, cleaner air, cheaper transport, and increased biodiversity.
We know that the council cannot achieve this goal on its own and residents, businesses and public bodies around the borough are already doing great work to tackle climate change. We believe that this Action Plan will focus the council's limited resources to have the biggest impact in speeding up climate mitigation efforts and use its influence in the most constructive way to achieve this goal.
We know that everyone has a part to play in the important work of mitigating the worst effects of climate change and so it is important that everyone has a voice in the council’s strategy.
Please read the Draft Carbon Neutrality Action Plan (PDF 5.4 mb) before answering the questions.
Carbon reduction is a wide reaching ambition and the report covers a great deal of information. We would recommend you review the full report, however the executive summary (PDF 198.9 KB) provides a brief overview of the plan.
Thank you for taking the time to look at this Action Plan and completing the consultation.