Decision details

Approval of Climate Change Strategic Priorities

Approval of actions contained within the accompanying action document

Recommendation to continue working on scoping the delivery plan – timelines, costs and ownership

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Surrey’s Climate Change Strategy be endorsed, and its associated actions approved.

2.    That the continued development of the actions contained within the strategy to identify clear ownership, appropriate levels of funding and a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) by 2021 that can provide for robust monitoring be supported. Where required any respective projects and programmes will be brought back to Cabinet with costed delivery plans for approval.

3.    That the continued engagement of the Council with boroughs and districts, with the intention of achieving joint endorsement across the 12 authorities be supported.

4.    That further engagement of residents and key stakeholders with the Strategy and actions, so that collective action may be taken to achieve the outlined ambition be supported.

5.    That the publication of our progress annually against our targets, with a complete review of the Strategy every five years be supported. Any minor changes outside this time frame will be approved by the leader in consultation with the borough and district authorities.

6.    That the Select Committee recommendation to investigate mechanisms for joint oversight and monitoring of the Climate Change Strategy impact and delivery be supported.

Reason for decision:

Surrey’s Climate Change Strategy enables us to deliver on Surrey’s net zero carbon emissions ambition and build the resilience of our communities to the impacts of climate change.

The potential implications if we do nothing to address climate change in Surrey include increased risk of flooding and extreme heat, disruption to our critical infrastructure, networks and businesses, and increased risk to our health and wellbeing.

Not only will the implementation of the actions contained within the strategy help to reduce the potentially negative and far-ranging impacts of climate change, it will also have substantial co-benefits including improved health and wellbeing, e.g. from reductions in air pollution, the potential for job creation and investment in Surrey’s green economy, and more local, sustainably produced food.

Further, baseline emissions research for Surrey, produced by researchers at Leeds University, has identified that there are a number of proven cost-effective and technically viable carbon reduction options that Surrey’s local authorities could deliver in addition to the County Council’s existing capital programme to reduce carbon emissions. These savings will be achieved across a range of stakeholders, from residents to businesses and public sector partners and could total £1.32 billion per annum by 2050 in savings on energy bills against a Business as Usual scenario (BAU).

Whilst the impacts of COVID19 on the County and the Government’s response, including the facilitation of social distancing, will not change the ambition of the strategy, they will need to be considered against the actions identified to deliver the strategy.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee]