Climate Emergency Response

It is already impacting communities across the world including here in County Durham in many different ways, but generally through more extremes of weather, which results in:

• increased storms
• hotter summers
• more intense periods of rainfall
• sea level rise and coastal erosion

By taking immediate and decisive action, we can help to reduce the most severe consequences and protect our communities and ecosystems for future generations.

Addressing Climate Change, Carbon Reduction, and Sustainability is at the heart of our strategy. We are committed to achieving net zero emissions across council operations and across the county. This means making sure most of our buildings do not use fossil fuels, maximising the use of energy efficient technologies and using renewable energy, whilst increasing our electric vehicle fleet and maximising opportunities for walking, cycling and bus transport.

Our work doesn't stop at just our organization. We are working closely with partners and engaging the public to create countywide change. This means working with businesses, residents and transport organisations to help create opportunities for a just and fair transition to net zero. We want to work with everyone as we will only achieve the goal of a Net Zero County by taking the journey together. Every step we take brings us closer to a greener, healthier community for all. 

Since 1992, we have been working on different projects helping to reduce emissions and create a better environment for residents, including significant investment in solar PV, street lighting efficiency, various domestic energy efficiency schemes and work on creating resilient communities amongst many other projects. We also adopted our first Climate Change Strategy in December 2013.

On 20 February 2019, the council declared a Climate Emergency in recognition that unless action is taken, the window of opportunity to limit global warming to 1.5°C to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change on humanity and natural systems will be lost. As part of this declaration, Full Council agreed to:

• immediately adopt a new council target of 60% by 2030 making significant progress towards making the council and County Durham carbon neutral taking into account both production and consumption emissions
• investigate what further actions are necessary to make County Durham Carbon Neutral by 2050 and pledge to achieve this

View the full declaration at County Council agenda and minutes 20 February 2019 - Item 13, Motions on Notice.

Climate Emergency Response Plan (CERP1)

Following a comprehensive public consultation, the council adopted the first Climate Emergency Response Plan (CERP1) on the 12 February 2020 to cover the period up until 2022. As part of the adoption of CERP1 a more ambitious target of an 80% reduction in emissions from the council's operations by 2030 was proposed and agreed.

CERP1 was followed by a revised and updated Climate Emergency Response Plan.

View the Adoption of CERP1 - Item 7 on the Cabinet agenda and minutes 12 February 2020.

Climate Emergency Response Plan (CERP2)

CERP2 was adopted by Cabinet on the 15 June 2022. As part of the adoption of CERP2 the council proposed and agreed to the following new targets:

• achieve net zero by 2030 by retaining the CERP1 80% actual carbon reduction target for council emissions by 2030 whilst offsetting or further reducing remaining emissions
• net zero by 2045 for countywide emissions (improved from 2050)

CERP2 contained a costed two-year action plan detailing over 150 projects that the council and its partners could take towards achieving these targets. CERP2 also confirmed that the carbon budgets that would be worked towards for countywide emissions would fall between the science based and national targets. This was in recognition that whilst it is imperative to decarbonise quickly (in line with the science based budget), the council and its partners need to ensure a fair and just transition.

View the Adoption of CERP2 - Item 4 on the Cabinet agenda and minutes 15 June 2022.

View the Climate Emergency Response Plan (CERP) 2022-24 (PDF, 7 MB).

You can also view the plan as a flipbook: Climate Emergency Response Plan 2022-24 on Flipbook.

Climate Emergency Response Plan (CERP3)

CERP3 was adopted by Cabinet on 10 July 2024.

This is our most comprehensive Plan to date, capturing a much greater variety of actions from our partners. There have been no changes made to the targets we are working towards. This CERP will be in operation for a three year period until 2027.

View the Adoption of CERP3 - Item 4 on the Cabinet agenda and minutes 10 July 2024.

View the Climate Emergency Response Plan (CERP) 2024-27 (PDF, 5 MB).

You can also view the plan as a flipbook: Climate Emergency Response Plan 2024-27 on Flipbook.

Progress

So much has been achieved but we understand that there is still a very long way to go. From the decarbonisation of Woodland Primary School in 2021, continued restoration of our peatlands and woodland creation programme, to the retrofit and launch of our Low Carbon Depot at Morrison Busty in 2023. Projects progress at pace and with enthusiasm to deliver low carbon solutions and opportunities. County Durham is recognised as a national leader in delivering Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure and is also nationally renowned for its Business Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP).

Our Climate Emergency Response Plan not only reduces our carbon emissions, it also saves the council money. The improvements to our streetlights mean they are only using a fraction of the energy they were when we started counting carbon in 2009. This alone will have saved the council about seven million pounds last year. Our renewable energy installations generated over two and a half million kWh of electricity last year, reducing our bills and provided over £200,000 income through Feed in Tariff payments. The money saved can be used to assist front line services. The CERP is also helping to save County Durham residents and businesses money on their energy bills and provides a whole host of social, economic and environmental co-benefits.

CERP3 builds on our progress, continuing our ambition for a fair and just transition; a green economy; being community and people centred; whilst addressing the ecological emergency.

Achieving the climate change targets set out in CERP3 in their entirety will require both access to external funding and, also advances in technology in some areas. Without these, the council will not be able to achieve its targets. Given national strategies aimed at achieving net zero by 2050, it is hoped that funding will be made available.