The pathway towards a greener future is being mapped out by South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) in a plan to be discussed next week.

A revised Climate Action Strategy focuses on specific areas relating to climate change mitigation, as well as adaptation to a changing climate, and improvements that can be made.

This comes as Stamford is selected as one of the Lincolnshire towns to host new electric vehicle charing points this year. Read more here.

The recent Climate Action Strategy revisions outline positive action that SKDC can take itself, as well as highlighting how partners and outside organisations can kick-start wider change across the district.

The first draft will go to the Environment Scrutiny Committee on March 14, before being put forward for further discussion prior to it becoming policy.

Cabinet Member for Waste and Climate Change, Cllr Mark Whittington, said: "Now is the time to act to accelerate action on climate change, from council operations to work in the wider district.

"SKDC declared its own target for carbon reduction, set out in 2019 when the Council declared a climate emergency.

"Our target is to reduce the organisation's carbon footprint by at least 30 per cent by 2030 and endeavour to become net-zero carbon as soon as viable before 2050. Last year, we reported a carbon reduction of 14 per cent.

"To play our part to meet the UK's national net zero target of 2050, rapid carbon reductions need to be locked-in this decade.

"But South Kesteven cannot act alone. Changes to ensure reductions in carbon emissions need to be tackled in a systemic way with our partners and these relationships will need to be taken further to accelerate and embed our response to climate change.

"Everyone must consider all opportunities for energy reduction, low carbon energy use and generation and valuing our resources better."

SKDC's Climate Action Plan will be developed throughout 2023, with support from parish councils, neighbouring local authorities, and wider partners.

There are eight areas for action:

1. The Built Environment
2. Power
3. Growing our Green Economy
4. Natural Environment
5. Transport
6. Resources
7. Communities
8. Decision-making

Work in these areas will dovetail with the role SKDC has to lead, shape and enable local action by engaging with residents, businesses, and other public sector organisations.

By 2030, SKDC's ambitions are for:

• the district to be low-carbon and SKDC to have met/exceeded its interim carbon reduction target
• a strong low-carbon economy and more low-carbon employment opportunities
• better adaptation to a changing climate, with infrastructure more prepared 
• the district to be more self-sufficient for energy with local opportunities maximised
• people to be more aware of the value of a clean and healthy environment
• waste to be seen as a resource
• improved opportunities to increase biodiversity

The Council's own carbon management plan covers assets or services where the Council has direct control can swiftly bring change for a reduction in carbon emissions. This includes energy used in buildings owned and occupied by SKDC, council vehicles, and other aspects such as staff and councillor business travel. 

SKDC can also unlock carbon reductions for its own housing through upgrades reduce energy use and move towards cleaner energy sources.

However, less than one per cent of the district's total emissions are down to Council operations, so the plan includes ways to indirectly influence third-party activity across the district, by communicating with residents, businesses and other partners, meeting key stakeholders and lobbying for further support.

Cllr Whittington said: "The Council has a distinct leadership role to shape and drive change to collectively work towards the goal of net zero and support the transition towards a low carbon economy.

"Our aim is to work closely with partner organisations to meet our three key strands: a Low carbon Council, Low carbon Communities and Low carbon Business.

"Work with Lincolnshire County Council and other district councils will allow us to combine efforts and accelerate the pace of change."