Council plans ambitious actions to protect the environment

Recognising that Horsham District Council has a key role to play in tackling climate change in Horsham District, councillors at a Cabinet meeting on 24 September are to agree funding for the first part of  an ambitious, challenging and aspirational target for the Council’s direct emissions to be carbon neutral by 2030.

These emissions come from the fuel used by its fleet vehicles and from the gas and electricity used in its buildings.

Additionally, unlike many other councils, Horsham District Council is also looking to set an aspirational target for emissions which are not in its direct control, such as from its leased buildings and services from its external suppliers, which would aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Budget has been identified within this financial year to enable the Council to start work on its action plans. In the meantime, councillors will discuss funding for the longer term to achieve these aspirational goals against a challenging economic backdrop and huge losses to the Council’s income arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commenting on the Council’s commitment regarding climate change and the environment, Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Waste Cllr Philip Circus said:

These are challenging carbon emission targets but we are setting out an ambitious plan for a greener future for both the Council and the District to tackle the issue of our district’s carbon footprint and climate change.

“Having completed a comprehensive carbon audit and established our current carbon footprint as a council last year, our two year action plan will now ensure that we start work straight away to deliver positive tangible benefits and improve our environment.

“The good news is that as a council we already have a good track record of dealing with environmental matters, particularly in the areas of biodiversity, and waste and recycling, where with a recycling rate of some 54%, we are the leading council for recycling in the whole of East and West Sussex.”

Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Waste Cllr Philip Circus

In June 2019, the Council committed to reducing its own carbon footprint and started to work towards the national target of becoming carbon neutral.

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