Buckinghamshire Council reports significant progress in climate change and air quality efforts
Buckinghamshire Council has released its third annual Climate Change and Air Quality Progress Report, highlighting substantial achievements in its ongoing environmental initiatives.
The Climate Change & Air Quality Strategy 2023-2024 Progress Report outlines the strides made since the strategy's adoption on 19 October 2021.
At the Council’s Cabinet meeting on 2 January, Councillor Thomas Broom, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, emphasised the growing visibility of climate change impacts. "The effects of climate change become ever more visible in our own experience and in what we hear and read on the news. This makes it even more important that we are able to present an update in our third annual progress report covering 12 months of activity from across the Council," Broom stated.
One of the key highlights of the report is a remarkable 78% reduction in net emissions for 2023/24 compared to baseline emissions from 1990. This means that the Council has achieved its goal of reducing emissions by 75% by 2030, five years ahead of schedule.
Buckinghamshire Council has continued its de-carbonisation efforts, including a successful project to install solar PV and battery storage across four sites.
The Council's tree planting programme has also made significant progress, with almost 193,000 trees planted in the first three years of a ten-year mission. Councillor Broom noted that transport remains the biggest source of emissions in Buckinghamshire, followed by domestic sources. He encouraged residents to embrace alternative means of travel and reduce energy use at home, highlighting several initiatives to help residents with their energy bills.
Looking ahead, the Council is working on a new Bucks-wide Local Travel Plan and a new Bucks Local Plan, both of which have clear commitments to sustainability and climate change mitigation. Recent consultations have also been held on draft proposals for a Local Walking & Infrastructure Plan.
For those interested in the full report, it is available here: Report for Climate Change Air Quality Strategy - Annual Progress Report
For tips on reducing your own carbon emissions, see the Bucks Climate Challenge webpage.