Council climate actions
Climate Change Action Plan
Our Climate Change Action Plan shows our actions over a two-year period, to help us move towards our target of reaching net zero by 2035. This means that by 2035, we will have reduced our greenhouse gas emissions as far as possible and have steps in place to remove any remaining emissions from the atmosphere.
Our current Climate Change Action Plan 2025 – 2027 was approved in November 2024 and we are reporting on our progress every three months.
Key achievements in the previous 2022-2024 Plan include:
- 5,560 street lighting assets upgraded to energy efficient LEDs, saving 329 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.
- Energy surveys completed for Council’s top 23 energy consuming sites, and no/low-cost measures to mitigate this identified.
- Introduction of a Climate Change Impact Assessment tool to improve consideration of climate impacts within key decisions.
The new Plan has 35 headline projects aligning with the target of net zero by 2035, helping the Council to effectively drive progress and monitor the difference being made.
Also featuring in the new Action Plan are co-benefits. These are where actions will bring wider economic, social and environmental benefits to the city, such as improved housing quality and better health outcomes. These co-benefits will also allow the Council to be aware of and reduce inequalities as some residents may be more affected by the effects of climate change.
Some of the key actions in the new Plan include:
- Developing and delivering a Local Area Energy Plan - a fully costed spatial plan that identifies the change needed to the local energy system and built environment. This work is being funded by the East Midlands Combined County Authority.
- Increasing opportunities to work more closely with communities in the city by expanding the Community Climate Change Forum with the aim of developing new community energy or climate projects and increasing engagement.
- Working with teams across the People’s Services directorate to embed climate change adaptation and mitigation into business-as-usual activities. This will ensure that the most vulnerable residents in the city are protected whilst also reducing the Council’s largest source of Scope 3 emissions (emissions that the Council doesn’t directly control; they mostly come from products and services that the Council buys).
The CCAP is overseen by the Climate Change Action Plan Programme Board which meets every six weeks to review progress.
In addition to this we have a councillor group of Climate Champions that meet every couple of months to help ensure this issue is understood and owned by each political party. Our Climate Champions are:
- Councillor Lucy Care
- Councillor Stephen Fowke
- Councillor Stephen Lakin
- Councillor Jamie Mulhall
- Councillor Cecile Wright
Work taking place
Further information on some of the climate change work taking place across the Council
Travel and transport – reducing emissions from Travel
- New cycle hubs across the city to encourage active travel
- Improved pedestrian and cycle access at the railway station and Morledge with Victoria and Albert street improvements ongoing
- Creation of seven new parklets, also known as pocket parks, that will enhance biodiversity and encourage active travel such as walking and cycling in district centres.
Home Energy Efficiency – reducing emissions from housing
- Working in partnership with YES Energy Solutions to increase uptake of available grants and funding for low-carbon heating, solar PV and insulation installation.
- Developing a network of Home Energy Efficiency advice and support organisations for city residents.
- Retro-fitting our housing stock with improved insulation, low carbon heating and installing solar panels to reduce bills.