Colchester Borough Council’s Climate Emergency efforts have been rated above average by an independent national review.
The council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan has been reviewed, alongside all other local authorities in the UK, by Climate Emergency UK. This is a national organisation, supporting local authorities with their climate emergency declaration and actions.
Overall, the council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan received a rating of 52%, which performed well above the national average of 43% for district councils.
The council performed well in the sections of ‘commitment and integration’, ‘community, engagement and communications’ and illustrating the ‘co-benefits’ of climate action.
Councillor Simon Crow, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability said: “We welcome this review of our Climate Emergency Action Plan from Climate Emergency UK. The review demonstrates the positive work the council has done so far to tackle the climate challenge.
“It is important for us to push on from here. This report highlights some areas for improvement, which we are committed to continue working on. I am proud that we are taking the lead on sustainability and that this report recognises the significant efforts that have been made to develop an effective, robust action plan.”
Each Climate Emergency Action Plan and/or Strategy has received a % rating, based on nine sections set out in a ‘scorecard’. The Action Plans have been reviewed based on the content and actions set out in the plan, not on what action has been implemented.
Several areas for improvement have also been identified and these will be addressed by the programme board when it develops a new iteration of its action plan in 2022. This plan will include updating existing actions, as well as adding in new actions for the coming years.
Page last reviewed: 27 January 2022