Finance

New financial mechanisms can facilitate the delivery of sustainable, low carbon and climate resilient projects. This also includes new business models and encouraging businesses to transition to a green and circular economy, in which waste is substantially reduced and materials are circulated throughout the economy at their highest value and utility. In turn, this will help to increase Horsham District’s local economy to support climate action while also building economic resilience.

Overarching Goals

• Enabling Financing Mechanisms: To implement financial tools and mechanisms that enable a transition to a sustainable, net zero, and resilient economy.
• Carbon Offsetting: To implement credible carbon offsetting mechanisms to reduce scope 3 emissions (emissions outside direct control), to invest in nature-based solutions and to achieve net zero.

Actions

Short Term (2024-26)

• Consider scaling up the Community Climate Fund.
• Explore emerging green finance mechanisms and their potential application in the Council.

Medium Term (2026-29)

• Create an Enterprise Centre, which will include a Green Innovation Hub incorporating support and incentives for the start-up of green and environmental based businesses.
• Implement a shadow carbon price.

Long Term (2030+)

• Consider the creation of a Sustainable Transition Fund using carbon offsetting solutions.
• Support and encourage area-based carbon offsetting solutions.