In west Norfolk we are committed to tackling climate change
Climate change work
In September 2021 we announced a climate change emergency with a robust climate change strategy and action plan in place. In addition to this motion, we’ve also brought our net zero target forward to 2035 from 2050 and we are committed to reviewing whether we could bring it forward further to 2030.
Climate change strategy and action plan
Our strategy and action plan was adopted in September 2021 and highlights our approach to tackling our emissions, as well as those from the district. We have committed to following a phased approach to this work, as set out in the document.
Phase 1 is focused on reducing our corporate emissions to meet our 2035 net zero target.
Phase 2 focuses on our role and scope of influence in helping to reduce emissions across the district. Phase 1 is largely the focus of this first strategy and action plan.
This strategy and action plan will be a live document and will be updated to reflect changes to council priorities, national legislation and guidance.
View our strategy and action plan
Corporate climate change policy
Our corporate climate change policy was adopted in October 2020.
This corporate policy guides our climate change work, providing a framework for other areas of council work. The policy works alongside the council's corporate priority ‘protecting and enhancing the environment including tackling climate change.’
Our policy highlights our approach to tackling climate change, through reductions in our greenhouse gas emissions and will embed a positive climate change culture within the council.
Key work to date
Two retrofit exercises, under the Re:Fit framework, have facilitated the installation of numerous energy conservation measures across our buildings. Measures include solar photovoltaics, heat pumps (both air and ground source), LED lighting, insulation upgrades and CHP (Combined Heat and Power) units. The second phase of works was undertaken with the support of £3.8 million worth of grant funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.
Following some initial solar photovoltaic installations in 2012 (with the support of the Feed in Tariff), and the subsequent Re:Fit works, we now have solar arrays installed across seven of our buildings:
- Alive Downham Leisure - installed 2020
- Alive Lynnsport complex - installed 2012, 2020 and 2022
- Alive Oasis - installed 2022
- Alive St James - installed 2020
- BCKLWN Depot - installed 2022
- King’s Court - installed 2012
- South Lynn Community Centre - installed 2022
In recent years we have taken many key steps forwards in our efforts to tackle climate change.
Below is a selection of some key activities taken to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and put climate change at the heart of the work we do:
- We have been using a green tariff for our electricity from the 2020/2021 financial year onwards.
- A UEA graduate was initially appointed on a 12-month internship to help deliver climate change work. In September 2020, this was extended with a two-year fixed term post, which as of May 2021 is now a permanent post and the role of ‘Senior Climate Change Officer’ was created.
- We developed and implemented a new carbon audit procedure, starting with our 2018/2019 audit.
- A Norfolk county group called the Norfolk Climate Change Partnership (NCCP) was set up in January 2020 to work with other Norfolk councils on climate change issues.
- We have provided support for upcoming art campaigns and events related to climate change.
- We have promoted ways to reduce our residents carbon footprints through our website, and we have amended and expanded our website content to allow for transparency and to publish recent updates and documents.
- Our new joint refuse collection contract with Breckland and North Norfolk District Council will further improve the efficiency of refuse collection in the district and reduce emissions. Additionally, this new contract includes new battery electric supervisor vehicles.
- 2023 saw the first year of our annual schools competition. It is open to all primary schools in the district and is aimed at year 5’s. The competitions main aims are to promote ideas, learning and creativity around climate change solutions.
- We have created a number of initiatives to encourage people to use healthier, more active, or more environmentally friendly forms of transport, such as the active and clean connectivity programme, secure cycle storage and community cycle hire scheme.
- We are working with Community Action Norfolk under the Go Green Communities project, with the goal to help reduce the carbon emissions and environmental impact for as many of West Norfolk’s community buildings as possible.