Decision

RESOLVED that:-

(a )     Cabinet agree that the Climate Change Action Plan 2024-26 is a key element of the Council’s wider Environmental Policy Statement, which commits the Council to strengthen the work being undertaken to maintain, protect and enhance the environment through a broad range of policies and activities, including active travel, nature recovery, planning, procurement, public health/disease control and general environmental services provision;

(b )     Cabinet agree that the Climate Change Action Plan will include a focus on greenhouse gas reduction and climate change resilience through nature in collaboration with the Council’s strategies for wider ecology and biodiversity issues;

(c )     Cabinet agree to restate the Carbon Neutral target for the county by 2030 and clarify that it refers to carbon dioxide only;

(d )     Cabinet agree a new target to work with Government and other key stakeholders to achieve net-zero for all greenhouse gases for the county of Northumberland by 2040, a strategy for which will be developed as part of the new Climate Change Action Plan 2024-26;

(e )     Cabinet agree that the local and regional adaptation response to the risks and impacts of a changing climate be included in the Climate Change Action Plan 2024-26;

(f )      Cabinet agree a new target to become a carbon neutral organisation by 2030, a strategy for which will be developed as part of the new Climate Change Action Plan 2024-26;

(g )     Cabinet agree that the scope of the Climate Change Action Plan 2024-26 continues to only include direct, territorial emissions (i.e. those produced in Northumberland) as its focus for projects but that it should do more to raise awareness amongst stakeholders of scope 3 (indirect) emissions (i.e. those produced outside of Northumberland) and how they can be reduced; and

(h )     Cabinet agree the core structure of the Climate Change Action Plan 2024-26 including a commitment to set out a strategy for planning in relation to the climate change targets.