Carbon neutral county council plan revealed

Plans to transform Staffordshire into a carbon neutral county council by 2050 have been revealed.

The county council’s Climate Change Framework, which will be discussed by Cabinet next week, sets out the steps the authority will take to reduce its carbon footprint over the next 30 years.

It builds on actions taken by the authority over the last 10 years to address climate change, such as replacing streetlights so they are more energy efficient, reducing business mileage and creating energy from waste.

New measures featured in the framework include switching to green electricity, reducing vehicle emissions, taking action to reduce waste, increasing sustainable travel, and help to prevent and mitigate flooding.

The authority has also committed £600,000 over the next year to push forward the climate change agenda, and a further £2m up to 2024/25.

County Councillor Julia Jessel, Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Change said:

“Climate change is a huge issue that impacts all of us, both now and in the future. It is crucial we take steps now to tackle climate change and its effects, so we can all look forward to a greener future for the county.

“We need to reach carbon-neutral status by 2050, and this framework sets out some of the ways we are going to do it. We will be putting climate change at the heart of everything we do, and making sure we consider what implications there are for the climate in every decision we make.

“This is going to be a marathon rather than a sprint, but achieving our net-zero vision means we can enhance the quality of life and well-being for our residents, provide a sustainable economy for businesses, and leave a positive legacy for future generations.”

The framework will be discussed at a meeting of the county council’s Cabinet on February 17.