Climate change and the council

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges the world faces today. We declared a climate emergency in September 2019 and committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions no later than 2050.

Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy

We have adopted Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy (2025 - 2030)

that will:

• Enable the Council to reduce its own emissions leading up to net-zero emissions by 2050
• Enable the Council to offset its own operational emissions that are unavoidable
• Further the implementation of environmental sustainability and circular economy in the operations of the Council
• Influence, enable and support residents, businesses and public and third sector organisations in the Borough to reduce and offset their own emissions
• Help the Council and the Borough to adapt and build resilience against impacts of climate change
• Promote zero carbon and environmentally sustainable growth and development of the Council
• Support nature recovery in the Borough and surrounding areas
• Promote a just transition to a greener economy
• Improve well-being and quality of life of the residents of the Council.

The Strategy will also support nature recovery, improve social equity, ensure a just transition, save money for the Council and residents, improve air quality, further energy security, better health and wellbeing of residents, strengthen community bonds, create local employment opportunities, attract investment, shape Hertsmere as a better place to live and work and promote wider environmental sustainability.

Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership

We are an active partner of Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership, a strategic group which acts as the lead partnership organisation for local authorities and the LEP to collaborate and identify joint work programmes on environmental, climate change and wider sustainability issues. Working in partnership with other district and borough councils, the county council and the Local Enterprise Partnership, HCCSP works to coordinate action across the county across 6 themes: Adaptation, Behaviour Change, Biodiversity, Carbon Reduction, Transport and Water.

Coordinated actions include supporting and progressing aligned activity across procurement, planning, communications, licensing, parks and contract management departments. Specific successes include county-wide coordination on Clean Air campaigns, Energy Saving App for residents, Solar Bulk procurement for residents, coordinated communications calendar, working to align a low emission taxi licensing policy, coordinated training on adaptation, climate change and idling action, working to align EV infrastructure role out, coordinated funding applications and stakeholder engagement with community and third sector groups through events and communications.