Hampshire Now - your County Council magazine

Hampshire County Council demonstrates Climate Commitment

Tuesday, 24 July 2012

Hampshire County Council is one of the first councils in England, to agree to sign up to the new 'Climate Local' Commitment, launched by the Local Government Association.

'Climate Local'  seeks commitment from councils relating to their own local actions to reduce carbon emissions and improve their ability to protect people and services from the anticipated changes in the climate. In signing up to the commitment, councils demonstrate their willingness to address the impacts of a changing climate and to challenge themselves to build on their existing achievements.

Sharing ideas on most effective ways to reduce emissions

As part of this new initiative, Hampshire County Council will be sharing ideas and advice with other local authorities on the most effective ways to reduce carbon emissions, which can also contribute towards reducing energy bills and make sure that buildings, roads and services are prepared and are resilient to the impacts of climate change such as flooding, heat waves and extreme weather events.

Supporting the County's carbon management plan

The Climate Local initiative will support Hampshire County Council's current work through its carbon management plan and climate change adaptation action plan to reduce carbon emissions and increase Hampshire's resilience to the impacts of a changing climate.

Hampshire County Council's Leader Councillor, Ken Thornber, said:

"Hampshire County Council has long recognised the importance of reducing carbon emissions and increasing Hampshire's resilience to a changing climate. The Council has an established record in this area, which is vital to securing the future prosperity and wellbeing of the county. I am delighted that we are able to further demonstrate our commitment by signing up to the Climate Local Commitment."

The Climate Local Commitment has the support of the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) , Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Environment Agency. Hampshire County Council has also used its experience and expertise in the areas of carbon reduction and adaptation to climate change to help to shape the development of the initiative and the resulting programme.

The LGA is already in discussions with councils and partners about the Climate Local initiative. They will work with this group of councils over the next few months to set a suite of local commitments and to share learning with other councils.

Further information about Climate Local

Climate Local is a new initiative - led by local government for local government - to drive, inspire and support council action on climate change. A menu of commitments and actions will be available for councils to choose from based on their own local circumstances.

It succeeds the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change (which over 90% of councils signed up to) and offers a framework that can reflect local priorities and opportunities for action. It will focus on councils' efforts both to reduce carbon emissions and to improve their resilience to the anticipated changes in the climate.

Getting involved in Climate Local will help councils across the country to capture the opportunities and benefits of action on a changing climate, through saving on their energy bills, generating income from renewable energy, attracting new jobs and investment in 'green' industries, reducing flood risks and managing the impacts of extreme weather, such as drought, tackling fuel poverty, and protecting our natural environment.

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