Case studies

Lancashire County Council recognised that a planned highway capital surfacing programme was a highly carbon intensive programme of works, so begun a journey to ascertain the carbon output of the surfacing programme, record and measure changes made to reduce it, and develop tools to allow them to integrate carbon usage into the asset lifecycle modelling.

Twenty five partner organisations, led by Devon County Council, including all eleven councils and two national park authorities, are collaborating on the production of a Devon Carbon Plan to show a pathway to getting Devon to net zero by 2050 at the latest.

In an effort to embed the Climate Emergency across our organisations, Torbay, South Hams and West Devon joined forces to arrange Carbon Literacy Training for 48 key officers, senior leaders and key councillors across Torbay Council, South Hams District Council and West Devon Borough Council.

North Devon's Biosphere Reserve is jointly funded by Devon County Council, North Devon Council and Torridge District Council. The Biosphere is launching an ambitious new Nature Recovery Plan as our contribution to tackling the ecological emergency here in northern Devon.

Blue Biosphere is a net-zero economic development programme collaborating across Torridge and North Devon to stimulate marine and catchment jobs and raise social mobility through development of Blue Carbon projects, improved fisheries management, marine conservation as well as Blue Growth targeted to deliver high-value jobs to the coastal community.

Cheltenham are using Salix funding as part of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) to install a number of sub meters in some of their leisure facilities and listed buildings in order to measure and reduce their energy footprint. The list includes the Pittville Pump Rooms, the leisure centre and their town hall.

Cheltenham Borough Council formed the Cheltenham Zero Partnership, with charity partner Vision21. The partnership will establish a strong network of businesses, community groups and the public sector to help lead the charge for the borough’s aim for carbon neutrality by 2030.

Stroud District Council's comprehensive strategy and plan, unanimously adopted in March 2021 drives progress on their commitment to a carbon neutral and ecologically resilient 2030.

Brighton & Hove City Council has been a lead player in identifying the potential of green hydrogen in the Greater Brighton City Region, setting up Hydrogen Sussex, a new body which supports and promotes the development of a hydrogen economy.

When declaring the Climate and Ecological Emergency in 2019, Swale Borough Council committed to ensuring the most vulnerable in society were not adversely affected. To help deprived communities save money, improve their energy and water efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions, a Fuel and Water Home Adviser was appointed to work within communities to improve their livelihoods.