What we are doing
Find out about the action the council is taking to tackle climate change.
The impacts of climate change are being felt here and now in North Lincolnshire and across the globe. Climate change is affecting our communities and our natural world. We know we need to go further and faster in responding to the challenges ahead.
What is a Green Future?
A Green Future is the council’s core environment strategy that aims to create a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable North Lincolnshire. It is a statement of policy intent relating to all matters concerning environmental wellbeing.
- It includes each aspect of the council that interacts with the environment.
- It implements and oversees the controls in place to minimise our environmental harm.
- It drives and encourages good sustainable behaviour throughout the region.
- It provides clear governance and assurance to ensure the council remain compliant with evolving environmental legislation.
- It sets the target to be net-zero in our Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2030.
- It fosters collaboration and forms partnerships to drive regional climate action.
Our Climate Action Plan
Underpinning a Green Future is our new Climate Action Plan that outlines the range of activities required across the council to improve environmental sustainability (often referred to as ‘Climate Action’).
This strategic framework of action refines our focus and targets improvements in land use, green spaces, residential properties, council buildings, waste management, transport and more.
The aim of the Climate Action Plan is to; reduce the dependency on fossil fuels, protect, enhance and restore local biodiversity and protect communities from the profound impacts of climate change.
Outcomes
- Improved public health and wellbeing.
- A thriving, replenished, natural environment.
- Securing and protecting the needs of future generations.
- A resilient, sustainable place that offers opportunities for all.
The Climate Action Plan contains 40 aims across nine priority categories.
Appendix one Delivery of the Climate Action Plan is a supporting document and focuses on the delivery of the plan, and it provides high level estimates on the impacts each aim will have, the cost implications, timescales, and co-benefits.
Categories
1. Land use and green spaces
Land use plays a significant role in our plans to meet net zero, supporting nature’s recovery and adapting to our changing climate. As our population grows, the pressures on our land and water systems intensify. The aims within this category will protect and encourage biodiversity by effectively managing our land use and green spaces.
Aims
- Collaborate with Natural England to bring a National Landscape into North Lincolnshire.
- Encourage the growth of native trees, protect ancient woodland, and plant an additional 250,000 trees and hedgerows.
- Ensure all developments in North Lincolnshire minimise their environmental impacts and deliver a measurable net gain in biodiversity of at least 10%.
- Enhance biodiversity and integrate access to green spaces into the planning of new and existing community spaces.
- By 2025, the council will have adopted a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for Greater Lincolnshire.
- Maximise potential opportunities for carbon capture and sequestration in North Lincolnshire.
- Work with partners to encourage the adoption of sustainable food production methods, raising the awareness of, and support cutting edge innovative food production.
Links to UN Sustainable Development Goals
- 11: Sustainable cities and communities – Integrating green spaces into communities
- 13: Climate action – Protecting biodiversity and enhancing green spaces
- 15: Life on land – Restoring ecosystems, plating trees, improving biodiversity.
2. Council buildings
Our buildings are a major part of our carbon footprint, they need to work in harmony with the environment and be as energy efficient as possible. With a significant dependency on fossil fuels, our buildings must now make the switch to renewable, low carbon sources as well be resilient in facing intensifying weather events. The aims within the category focus on reducing energy and water consumption.
Aims
- By 2030, the council will meet all its electricity needs from renewable sources.
- Reduce carbon emissions associated with heating council buildings by at least 7% p/a.
- Improve the energy performance ratings (EPCs) of at least 10 buildings p/a.
- Embed sustainable water management processes into existing operations to reduce overall water consumption.
Links to UN Sustainable Development Goals
- 6: Clean water and sanitation – Sustainable water management
- 7: Affordable and clean energy – Switching to renewables
- 13: Climate action – Reducing emissions from council buildings.
3. Residential properties
Our neighbourhoods must evolve to meet the challenges of climate change. We need to upgrade our housing stock, create attractive, nature-friendly streets and public spaces that benefit our wellbeing. Currently, houses in the UK are amongst the least efficient in Europe, therefore, to meet our climate targets we need to enable and support residents and landlords to upgrade their properties.
Aims
- Endorse the delivery of high-quality, energy-efficient sustainable homes and low-carbon neighbourhoods.
- Actively deliver extensive local authority led private housing retrofitting schemes.
- Provide energy efficiency advice, support and guidance on energy performance to homes across North Lincolnshire.
Links to UN Sustainable Development Goals
- 7: Affordable and clean energy – Retrofitting homes for energy efficiency
- 11: Sustainable cities and communities – Energy efficient homes and neighbourhoods
- 13: Climate action – Reducing carbon emissions from homes.
4. Clean and affordable energy
Transforming the energy system into one that is zero carbon, affordable, fair, reliable and secure in the face of climate impacts and global instability is crucial in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. At a regional level, the aims below focus on how we can stimulate investment, upskill the workforce, and reap the economic benefits of transitioning towards a net-zero economy.
Aims
- Increase regional business investment in energy efficiency and sustainable energy.
- Upskill the local workforce and prepare the supply chain to be ready to facilitate the transition to net zero.
- Support the regional work improving the competitiveness of the Humber, establishing it as the first net-zero industrial cluster by 2030.
- Enable the development of strategic low-carbon infrastructure to support the transition away from fossil-fuels.
Links to UN Sustainable Development Goals
- 7: Affordable and clean energy – Low carbon energy
- 8: Decent work and economic growth – Upskilling workforce – transition to net zero economy
- 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure – Sustainable industrial transitions
- 13: Climate action – Decarbonising energy systems.
5. Sustainable transport
Transport accounts for 29% of regional emissions and 33% of our emissions are associated with our own vehicle usage. Switching to electric vehicles is key but will only address part of the issue; shifting more journeys from private car to walking, cycling and public transport will be hugely beneficial to people’s health, social inclusion and productivity. The aims below actively enable more sustainable travel choices.
Aims
- Deliver the Sustainable Fleet Replacement Strategy 2023 – 2030 to reduce emissions associated with the council fleet.
- Deliver the Charging Ahead: Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Strategy 2024 – 2030 to encourage and facilitate the adoption of electric vehicles.
- Adopt a Local Transport Plan (LTP) for North Lincolnshire that will deliver a net zero transport system.
- Actively promote, provide, and maximise opportunities for increasing the uptake of public transport, cycling and walking, discouraging private car usage.
Links to UN Sustainable Development Goals
- 3: Good health and wellbeing – Promote active travel
- 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure – Low carbon transport infrastructure
- 11: Sustainable cities and communities – Promoting public transport, waling and cycling while discouraging private car use
- 13: Climate action – Reducing transport emissions.
6. Reducing waste
We must minimise our use of resources and focus on how waste is produced, promoting the reuse, repair and recycling of resources to avoid waste ending up in landfill. It’s vital we uphold high standards of environmentally sound waste management whilst we explore and co-design new solutions with employees and stakeholders.
Aims
- Ensure that less than 1% of waste produced by the council goes to landfill.
- Eliminate the council’s entire use of single use plastics across all areas by 2026.
- Uphold the highest standards by ensuring all council waste is either re-used, recycled or recovered.
- Empower North Lincolnshire communities to take action in reducing the levels of litter.
- Implement new preventative measures to reduce the levels of fly tipping in the region.
- Develop targeted initiatives and embed processes that address food waste in North Lincolnshire.
Links to UN Sustainable Development Goals
- 11: Sustainable cities and communities – Improving environmental quality
- 12: Responsible consumption and production – Reducing waste, promoting recycling, eliminating single use plastics
- 13: Climate action – Reducing transport emissions.
7. Influencing others
Systematic change is required to create a greener future and that will only happen if people across North Lincolnshire are convinced of the need for action and are supported through the transition. The aims below outline how others will be influenced to take climate action.
Aims
- Increase knowledge, technology transfer, linkages and information sharing on sustainability matters within communities to drive activity across North Lincolnshire.
- Enable Town and Parish Councils, schools and community groups to do more to enhance their local environment through the transfer of responsibilities and enabling community-led environmental improvements.
- Explore and promote new investment opportunities and funding models, to support community organisations to access environmental funding.
Links to UN Sustainable Development Goals
- 4: Quality education – Increase knowledge and awareness of sustainability
- 10. Reduced Inequalities
- 13: Climate action – Encouraging climate action
- 17: Partnerships for the goals – Engaging communities, councils, schools and funding partners.
8. Resources and decision making
Every single decision will count if we are to make sustained progress towards a greener future. We must continue to challenge the outmoded view that there is an inevitable trade-off between economic, social and environmental goals: this Climate Action Plan characterises a good decision as one that supports all three. Not all well-made decisions guarantee sustainable outcomes, however the aims below aim to proactively support decision-making.
Aims
- Ensure all commissioning and procurement activity is aligned to our net zero goal.
- Agree a Green Investment Programme that strategically reflects the council’s 2030 net zero aim.
- Embed structures to govern, progress, and oversee climate, sustainability, and biodiversity matters.
- Educate, increase awareness, and expertise on the environment amongst officers and members.
Links to UN Sustainable Development Goals
- 4: Quality education – Educating officers and members on the environment
- 12: Responsible consumption and production – Ensuring procurement and investment aligns to net zero goal
- 13: Climate action – Structures to govern climate and sustainability matters
- 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions – Governance and decision making frameworks.
9. Protecting communities
We are already feeling the impacts of our changing climate. This is most apparent when extreme weather events create crisis situations such as storms, flooding, drought or wildfires. By their nature, emergencies are disruptive and are potentially damaging and dangerous to us and our wildlife. It is how we prepare, respond and how quickly we recover that makes the difference.
Aims
- Work collaboratively to protect our communities against the physical effects of climate change through targeted investment in protection.
- Actively deliver on North Lincolnshire’s Air Quality Action Plan to address any local exceedances in pollution.
- Develop a council Climate Emergency and Resilience Plan.
- Manage flood risk and ensure adequate mitigation and protection is in place.
- Support local farmers to transition to resilient and profitable agriculture which increases food security.
Links to UN Sustainable Development Goals
- 2: Zero hunger – Supporting local agriculture for food security
- 3: Good health and wellbeing – Improving air quality and protecting communities
- 11: Sustainable cities and communities – Flood management and climate protection
- 13: Climate action – Climate resilience and emergency planning.
- 14: Life below water
