Climate Action Plan

In April 2019, we declared a climate emergency. We pledged that our own activities would be net zero carbon by 2030 and that we would use our leadership and influence in the city to work with others towards making the district of Preston zero carbon by the same date.

Climate Action Plan

To help ensure we reduce our carbon emissions to net zero goal by 2030, we are committed to developing, adopting and implementing a Climate Action Plan to establish clear, measurable actions for the Council to take to reduce the effect of our operations and services on the environment.

What will it outline?

• How we can decarbonise our own properties, operations and services
• How we will work with others to influence and inspire partners across the district, county and region to decarbonise their properties and activities

When will it be published?

The plan will be published in 2022 and is a key priority identified within the declaration of a Climate Emergency, reinforced through the Climate Task and Finish Group .

In preparation for this the following steps are being taken:

• Review recommendations from Task and Finish Group
• Review budgetary processes to ensure climate is taken into account when preparing annual budgets
• Engage and consult with our communities and businesses and organisations on actions to take which will help us reduce our carbon emissions as a city and help us get to Net Zero
• Work with anchor partners to explore collaborative decarbonisation options

Climate Action Statement

In the interim, we have produced a Climate Action Statement (PDF, 3 MB) outlining what we have already done or is taking place so far. This cuts across all 3 of Preston City Council's core priorities: Your City, Your Council, Fairness for you.

Your city

• Established the Preston Pledge, as part of Big Green Week 2021
• Developed and adopted a social value procurement framework which includes climate and environmental criteria which can be included in procurements for the Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme
• Consulted on Issues and Options, including climate and environmental considerations, as part of the Central Lancashire Local Plan, and produced report detailing responses
• Secured EV charging points on all new dwellings with an off-street parking space granted planning permission since 2015
• Established differential mowing schedules on some parks
• Early adopter of double charging points for Electric Vehicles within Avenham multi-storey car park, no additional fees for user

Fairness for you

• Secured energy efficiencies in all new dwellings (and all new non-residential development of 500sqm or more) granted
  planning permission since 2015 to a level which exceeded statutory Building Regulations by (at least) circa 20%
• Working on a project led by UCLan funded through the PlaceBased Climate Action Network (PCAN) exploring how we can take a citizen-led co-produced approach to address the climate emergency and promote local economic and social benefits
• Facilitated significant improvements to the thermal efficiency of private sector housing stock, through grant funded programmes.

Your Council

• Convened and completed a cross-party Climate Task and Finish Group
• Appointed dedicated Cabinet Member for Climate Change
• Achieved One Carbon World Carbon Neutral International Standard part of the UN's - Climate Neutral Now initiatives, in recognition of our work to reduce carbon emissions over the last 10 years
• Achieved and sustained a Carbon Neutral print service (held for 5 consecutive years)
• Invested in and applied round optimisation software to assist refuse round efficiencies
• Exploring how we can meaningfully assess climate impact in our decision-making processes
• Pilot project to test the suitability of HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) fuel in select Council vehicles (Expected start date December 2021)
• Reviewing the Core and Major Asset Strategy to incorporate measures that will improve energy efficiency
• Energy Efficiency measures taken, such as LED lighting installations in Council owned buildings and property, insulation, solar panels and new, double-glazed windows to Town Hall

Get involved

To support us in our aim to become net zero why not make a Preston Green Pledge. If you are a business or organisation to get support on reducing your carbon footprint visit Invest Preston - how to reduce business carbon emissions.