Help shape plans to tackle the impacts of climate change

People across West Cheshire are being asked to share their thoughts on how the Council can continue to tackle the impacts of climate change.

The Council’s Climate Emergency Response Plan was launched in 2021 and now needs to be renewed for the 2025-2030 period.

Starting today, 26 July 2024, an early-stage engagement activity will seek the views of residents and other partners across the borough, and the results will enable priorities and actions to be co-produced with communities. It will be followed by a formal consultation in the autumn on a draft plan.

Industries, businesses and communities across the borough are already making an impact on reducing carbon emissions.  The latest available data from The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), published in June 2024, shows a significant drop in carbon emissions in west Cheshire in 2022.  DESNZ monitors emissions down to a local authority level each year, with a two-year time lag – meaning this 2022 data is the most up-to-date figure available. 

Greenhouse gas emissions in the borough stood at 4.021 million tons in 2021. These reduced to 3.201 million tons in 2022. This represents a 20.4% year-on-year drop in carbon emissions.

During the period, Cheshire West and Chester’s regional gross value added saw growth from 11.6bn (2021) to 13.2bn (2022), a 13.6% increase. This demonstrates the potential to decarbonise the economy while delivering sustainable growth.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said:

“The data from The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero shows that we are on the right track in our journey to tackle climate change.  We are the fastest decarbonising area in the UK while delivering growth to our communities. That shows that, locally, we can make a real difference.

“In May 2019 Cheshire West and Chester Council declared a Climate Emergency and it remains a major priority for us. The science and evidence are clear - climate change poses a significant threat to our way of life, and the time for action is now.”

Cheshire West and Chester has set an ambition to become a carbon neutral borough, reducing emissions of greenhouse gases to net zero by 2045 or earlier. The Climate Emergency Response Plan is critical to achieving this target.

Starting today, local people can help to shape how this plan will look going forward. The engagement activity is an important opportunity for residents to support and shape the development of the climate change strategy and how we can work together to help the borough and country reach net zero in a way that will benefit our communities for generations to come.

The engagement activity will take place via the Council’s online engagement platform, Participate Now, and involves a series of questions on different elements of the Climate Plan. There will also be an interactive mapping tool that allows participants to pin what they feel are the key opportunities relating to tackling climate change in their area, and actions that have already taken place across the borough.  Visit: 

http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/climateplanengagement 

People can also request a paper copy of the consultation by emailing:  

climatechange@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk 

The Council' Climate Change team will also be hosting drop-in sessions in some of the borough's libraries throughout August, providing people with an opportunity to share views on the proposed Climate Emergency Response Plan.

The team will be in attendance on the following dates:

1 August - Ellesmere Port Library, 3pm - 6.45pm
8 August - Storyhouse, Chester, 3pm - 6.45pm
15 August - Malpas Library, 3pm - 6.45pm
22 August - Northwich Library (located in Weaver Hall Museum), 3pm - 6.45pm

The engagement will run from 26 July - 1 September 2024.