Climate Change

We've drafted a Climate Change Action Plan which outlines how the council will reduce carbon emissions.

In the plan we've set targets and commitments to work with our communities, partners, local businesses, and other key stakeholders.

We want to hear your thoughts on our draft action plan, including any suggestions on how we could improve it. This consultation closes on Sunday 24th July 2022.

Download the Draft Climate Change Action Plan here

Submit a response online here

Responses can also be submitted by post to:

Climate Change Consultation
North Warwickshire Borough Council
The Council House
South Street
Atherstone
CV9 1DE

What is climate change?

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Whilst some shift is natural, human activity has greatly contributed to the release of gases into the air which have and are continuing to cause global temperatures to rise. These gases include carbon dioxide and methane.

Activities such as burning fossil fuels for heating and electricity and driving petrol cars contributes to the release of these gases. In addition, deforestation can also release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Greenhouse gas emissions are at their highest levels in 2 million years and the last decade was the warmest on record.

Why we have to do something

Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns has dire consequences for everyone across the planet. It is not simply a case of warmer temperatures, consequences of climate change now include:

• Melting polar ice
• Rising sea levels
• Flooding
• Catastrophic storms
• Declining biodiversity
• Habitat loss
• Intense droughts
• Water scarcity
• Severe fires

Doing all we can to limit global temperature rise to no more than 1.5°C is estimated to limit the worst of the damage and enable us to maintain a liveable climate.

What you can do

The things you can do to fight climate change will in part depend on your budget and lifestyle. Check out these low cost ideas

Energy

• Turn off lights when you’re not using them
• Close ALL curtains and blinds during the night and consider thermally lined curtains to keep the heat in
• Replace lightbulbs with low energy LED versions
• One pot cooking
• Use saucepan lids

Eat sustainably

• Wasting food feeds climate change and accounts for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Take some simple steps to reduce the amount of food you throw away - https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/
• Shop locally and eat seasonally
• Reduce the amount of meat and dairy you eat. Livestock rearing contributes towards global warming through the methane gas animals produce and also deforestation to expand grazing pastures
• Grow your own fruit and vegetables. Courgettes are easy to grow and just one plant, in the ground or a container, will provide you with three to four courgettes a week depending on the weather

Sustainable wardrobe

• Keep your clothes for longer by repairing clothes and shoes where possible
• Buy second hand
• Buy neutral clothing which won’t go out of fashion, or ignore fashion trends altogether

Plant Trees

Trees are a natural way to combat climate change. They lock up carbon and fight flooding. Find out how you could get free trees from The Woodland Trust - Free Trees for Schools and Communities - Woodland Trust

Travel greener

• Walk or cycle shorter journeys where possible
• Car share or use public transport
• Turn off your car engine when parked up. Idling increases the amount of exhaust fumes in the air
• Avoid flying and consider travelling by train or holidaying in the UK

Reduce your waste

• Reduce what you buy by choosing items with less or no packaging
• Reuse items where possible. This could include repairing or using something for a different purpose (example: glass sauce jar to store seeds)
• Recycle what you can at kerbside www.northwarks.gov.uk/red and at household waste recycling centres www.warwickshire.gov.uk/recycling

Do you have an idea you’d like us to consider?

If you have an idea about how we can improve this area of the website or, most importantly, reduce our climate impact please get in touch at climatechange@northwarks.gov.uk

Further reading

• www.gov.uk/guidance/climate-change
• www.un.org/climatechange
• www.ipcc.ch
• www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/climate-change

Last updated Wednesday, 21st December 2022