Work is underway throughout the council to reduce carbon emissions across the county in partnership with people in our communities, businesses, other local councils, interest groups and government.
Find out more about our climate change challenge.
Our Climate Change Strategy for Derbyshire was approved by Cabinet in October 2021. You can find it attached to this page along with a shorter summary version which sets out the next steps for us to reduce emissions from our own estate and operations, and from across the county.
Through 2023 and 2024 we will:
- continue to work hard to reduce emissions from our buildings, street lighting and fleet
- use results from the Derbyshire Spatial Energy Study (attached to this page) to explore and support an increase renewable energy generation across the county
- continue to apply our Sustainable Procurement Policy (approved by Cabinet in June 2022 item 116/22) to influence and manage our process for buying goods and services to reduce environmental impact and improve sustainability
- deliver the Tree and Woodland Strategy for Derbyshire (approved by Cabinet in September 2023 item 137/23)
- deliver the Strategic Framework for Council Action for Progress to Net Zero Energy in Derbyshire (approved by Cabinet in June 2023 item 87/23), which sets out how we will help to enable a net zero energy system in the county
- work closely with the county's industrial and agricultural sectors to help reduce their emissions and safeguard their long-term environmental and economic stability in the region
- support schools across the county to reduce emissions, leading to wider environmental benefits and awareness among schools and their communities
- work with other councils in Derbyshire to apply findings from the Natural Capital Strategy to enhance and protect Derbyshire's natural resources
- continue to deliver climate change training to a significant number of our employees and councillors
- deliver our action plan to support homeowners in improving the energy efficiency of their homes
- continue to engage and work closely with the county's active and knowledge community energy groups to co-design and co-deliver projects and campaigns
- be continuing to work in partnership with district and borough councils and private businesses to install electric vehicle charge points across the county, and be on track to install 1,000 charge points by 2025
- continue to carry out climate change impact assessments on our biggest infrastructure projects
As well as carrying out work to better understand the risks associated with climate change in Derbyshire, we are also focusing on adaptation, which means looking at what we need to do to prepare ourselves and the county for the effects of climate change.
Extreme weather events such as floods, strong winds or long spells of hot weather require planning and action to help build resilience in our communities.
We're planning how we can further protect and enhance the county's landscapes and biodiversity. Looking after our natural habitats, species and whole ecosystems not only improves the county's natural assets, but also improves their resilience, which will help in the offsetting of the county's carbon emissions.
Working together with other local councils
To strengthen our climate action, we have worked closely with the district and borough councils in Derbyshire to develop a joint Vision Derbyshire Climate Change Strategy (2022-2025). You can find this attached to this page.
This Vision Derbyshire Strategy aligns with the aims of our Climate Change Strategy but focuses on how Derbyshire's councils can work together on a common vision, along with central government, businesses, communities, and residents across the county, to reduce carbon emissions
You can also find out what we've done so far to help cut carbon emissions in our timeline.
Find out how you can get involved.