Wiltshire Climate Strategy Discussion Document January 2021

It is crucial for the council to engage widely in order to be able to deliver on the climate agenda.  Some engagement has already taken place:

• The council's Global Warming and Climate Emergency Scrutiny Task Group has gathered the views of a wide range of stakeholders since June 2019.
• The Climate team has held initial engagement meetings with stakeholders August - December 2020: environmental groups; public sector partners including town and parish councils; Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership; Covid recovery partnership groups.
• A survey of more than 6000 residents was carried out in autumn 2019 and showed that environmental priorities featured high for their area as did antisocial behaviour and highway maintenance

The council can also draw on the recent report from the national Climate Assembly. Their report The Path to Net Zero (opens new window), shows how a representative sample of the population believe the UK should meet its net zero emissions commitment.  There are many detailed recommendations across ten areas including: how we travel; what we eat and how we use the land; what we buy; heat and energy use in the home; how we generate our electricity; and greenhouse gas removals. 

The report conveys assembly members' agreement on themes that recurred throughout their discussions, on the need for:

• improved information and education for all on climate change;
• fairness, including across sectors, geographies, incomes and health;
• freedom and choice for individuals and local areas;
• support for protecting and restoring nature;
• realising the value of 'co-benefits' to tackling climate change

 Further engagement and consultation with stakeholders throughout Wiltshire is planned

June-October 2021 to develop the climate strategy, and a new 'Climate and Environment Forum' will enable continuous engagement and sharing of knowledge and experience in the journey towards net zero in Wiltshire.