The Council’s updated Climate Change Action Plan 2025-2027 will be considered by Cabinet members next week. The 2025-2027 plan builds on the successes of the previous 2022-2024 plan and has a more strategic focus, furthering the Council’s journey to net zero by 2035.  

Key achievements in the previous 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 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 that will map areas of higher energy demand, issues and opportunities. 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 control and come from products and services that the Council buys) .

Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability commented: 

“As Storm Babet reminded us just over a year ago, our climate is changing at an accelerated rate and we must take action to mitigate against and reduce the effects that ongoing climate change will have on the city and residents. 

“Our new two-year action plan addresses what we as a Council need to do to reduce not just our own emissions, but how as city leaders we can bring everyone else on the journey with us. By taking a collaborative approach, we will ensure that the entire Council is involved in reaching net-zero as well as our partners and residents.

“Tackling climate change offers a fantastic opportunity to build a greener, healthier city with a stronger economy and better outcomes for everyone.”

The full proposed Climate Change Action Plan 2025-2027 and Cabinet Report can be viewed on the Democracy Portal.