Consultation to open on Chichester’s climate change action plan: Residents urged to have their say

A public consultation on the draft Climate Emergency Detailed Action Plan opens tomorrow (Friday, September 25) and runs until November 6.

Some of the measures included in the action plan, are to:

– Deliver measurable carbon reduction in new developments and through the council’s own operations

– Source funding for reduced carbon initiatives

– Promote lifestyle changes, such as energy reduction and using renewable energy sources

– Develop local plans for reducing food waste

– Identify opportunities for increased tree planting, and

– Promote sustainable transport

The consultation will also ask people for their thoughts on the suggestions included in the plan, including different ways in which the council proposes to engage with residents around combatting climate change over the coming months.

This includes a Citizens’ Jury, which will be asked to make recommendations to the council; working groups made up of different organisations to help develop greenhouse gas mitigation projects; and a public behaviour change campaign.

SEE MORE: Chichester citizens’ jury on climate change to be set up

To have your say in the consultation when it goes live, visit www.chichester.gov.uk/letstalkclimatechange

Councillor Penny Plant, Cabinet Member for Environment at Chichester District Council, said: “We all have a very important part to play in helping to combat the climate emergency, both locally and globally.

“In January, the council took a key step forward in the fight against climate change by officially adopting a Climate Emergency Initial Action Plan, which set out a carbon reduction target of 10 per cent year-on-year until 2025 for the Chichester District.

“We have now developed this plan, which outlines ways in which the we, as a council, can reduce emissions in the work that we do, as well as what we can do to help individuals and other organisations across the district to reduce their emissions too.

“As a council, we are already doing significant amounts of work to reduce our carbon footprint and make our buildings a lot greener.

“For example we are using solar panels on the roof of our offices at East Pallant House to generate hot water and electricity, and we are also investigating installing more electricity-generating panels on our other buildings.

“We are developing new policies through the Local Plan Review to set standards for sustainable construction, energy efficiency and water usage in new developments across the district.

“Part of this work includes policies for sustainable drainage, flooding and wildlife corridors.

“Our plan looks to develop this work, to ensure that we are doing all we can to do our bit in the fight against climate change.

“However, the council’s emissions are just a small part of the district’s emissions as a whole, and this is where the crucial second section of our plan comes in, setting out ways in which we can bring people and organisations together to help them reduce emissions in their homes, their workplaces, and in other aspects of their lives.

“This consultation is a chance for people — residents, business owners, organisations and visitors — to share their thoughts on our suggestions, and I would urge everyone to take part.

“It takes 5-10 minutes to complete our survey and we’re keen to hear a wide range of views from as many people as possible.”

The deadline for responding to the consultation is midnight on 6 November.

On the consultation webpage, people can:

– view the council’s Climate Emergency Detailed Action Plan;

– have their say via an easy-to-complete survey;

– read a range of frequently asked questions to help put the survey into context;

– and find a glossary to explain some of the terms used.

People can request a paper copy of the questionnaire by emailing [email protected]

Once all the results have been analysed, the updated action plan will be heard by the council’s Environment Panel on Tuesday, November 17.

SEE MORE: Chichester District Council declares climate emergency, promising ‘these are not just words’

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