Making progress towards carbon neutrality
In summer 2021, Brighton & Hove City Council launched its Carbon Neutral programme, pledging to become carbon neutral by 2030.
Since then, important work has been taking place across the city to reduce emissions and protect nature. Climate action is also making an important contribution to creating a cleaner environment and supporting access for all to lower cost and nutritious food.
At the beginning of this year we were named as England’s third cleanest city in the ENDS Clean Cities Index 2022.
Over recent months we have supported Brighton & Hove Food Partnership and signed the Right to Food Declaration to ask government to make access to food a legal right, against a background of increasing food poverty and insecurity.
The council leader signed the Nature and Climate Declaration to push for further and faster action to restore our natural world and we celebrated the successful conclusion of the SOLARISE project which installed solar energy on council homes, lowering carbon emissions and energy bills for some of our residents.
Together in the fight against climate change
Council leader Phélim Mac Cafferty said: “As we approach the one-year anniversary of the launch of the city council’s Carbon Neutral 2030 programme, it’s important to reflect on and recognise the achievements to date.
“There is still much to be done, so we are using this anniversary to analyse the work to date, understand progress and implement lessons learned, made by reviewing the Carbon Neutral 2030 programme.
“There’s plenty for us to celebrate – a snapshot of achievements includes installing new solar panels on council houses, new drinking water fountains, planting street trees and protecting areas of the city most at risk of flooding. It’s been a busy time for climate action across Brighton & Hove.
“However, none of this would have been possible without the support and cooperation of Brighton & Hove residents, businesses and organisations which understand why these actions matter and want to join us in the fight against climate change.
“It’s crucial that we continue to work together to make the substantial changes that will drive down toxic emissions and slow down and prevent the devastating effects of the climate crisis.”
What we’ve done
Here are some of the things the council has been busy with in the last three months to support the Carbon Neutral 2030 programme:
- Held community drop-in sessions for residents to learn about and share their views on the Wild Park Rainscape proposals
- Began implementing the Brighton and Adur Coastal Protection scheme to further protect the city from coastal erosion and flooding
- Launched a pilot project called Shaping Climate change Adaptive PlacEs (SCAPE) to reduce the risk of flooding to properties in a vulnerable part of Brighton & Hove
- Encouraged local groups to apply for the Urban Tree Challenge Fund
- Created new biodiversity pages on our website
- Introduced a web browser that helps to plant trees for council staff and implemented a mandatory climate e-learning module
- Invited residents to join the 2022 City Nature Challenge, BLUEPRINT Circular Economy Roadshow and The Big Plastic Count
- Distributed 100 starling nesting boxes to council-owned buildings and open spaces across Brighton & Hove
- Backed calls for more action to protect nature and reduce the impact of climate change by signing the Nature & Climate Declaration
- Celebrated the completion of the SOLARISE project which installed solar panels across council properties across the city
- Installed free drinking water fountains across the city to minimise single-use plastic bottles
- Agreed to add four new electric Refuse Collection vehicles to the council’s fleet
- Launched our Wilder Verges project
What we’re doing next
We are now reviewing the Carbon Neutral 2030 programme for discussion by the Policy and Resources committee in July. The review will cover all the areas of the council’s work, from energy and water, transport and travel, to waste, procurement and the circular economy.
