Derbyshire County Council set to pledge £4m to tackle climate change

Derbyshire County Council is planning to set aside more than £4m to help tackle climate change.
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The authority’s cabinet members will debate the move on Thursday, January 23 as part of the council’s budget setting.

If plans are approved, the cash will be used to help deliver the council’s Carbon Reduction Plan and Environment and Climate Change Framework, which were approved in November.

The council says it would be funded from business rates.

Derbyshire County Council leader Barry Lewis.Derbyshire County Council leader Barry Lewis.
Derbyshire County Council leader Barry Lewis.
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The Carbon Reduction Plan details how the council will take action to reduce emissions from its own buildings, street lighting and vehicles in order to achieve pledges made by councillors in May 2019.

And the Environment and Climate Change Framework sets out policies on how the council will work with other councils in Derbyshire and the wider community to deliver on the 2015 Paris Agreement which the UK signed to help limit global warming.

Leader of Derbyshire County Council, Councillor Barry Lewis, said: “Steps we’re taking to help tackle climate change in Derbyshire are progressing at a pace.

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“We pledged to take a strategic leadership role in bringing together partners across the county to tackle this issue and inspire businesses and the public to do all they can to reduce their carbon footprint.

“Radical change is needed to the ways in which we all lead our daily lives if we are to meet the challenging targets set down to cut carbon before it’s too late. Our plans are sensibly aligned with national and international targets.

“We recognise this will require investment. That’s why we’re proposing to set aside a significant sum to help pump prime innovation and drive development over forthcoming years.

"This investment will unlock new opportunities for businesses and communities."

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The authority says it has already agreed with all councils in Derbyshire to work together to reduce carbon emissions, bid for cash to install electric vehicle charging points around the county and plans to introduce a new grant scheme - called Climate Action Grants - to support communities to take action on climate change.