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Cabinet received a report setting out the
annual summary of actions taken, and progress made, on the eight
strategic themes set out in Stevenage’s 2020 Climate Change
Strategy.  Key initiatives
included:

Retrofitting homes to improve energy
efficiency.
Decarbonising the Council’s
vehicle fleet.
Launching a Green Business Grant to
support sustainable practices.
Enhancing biodiversity through tree
planting schemes.
Engaging communities via the Climate
Change Community Fund.

 
The report also highlighted action being taken
by the Council at county level through the Hertfordshire Climate
Change and Sustainability Partnership (HCCSP) and the work being
undertaken at neighbourhood and individual level to drive
behavioural change across the town.
 
The Portfolio Holder was pleased to report
that in order to improve the accuracy and consistency of future
emissions tracking, the Council was developing a new greenhouse gas
baseline and a transparent reporting framework.  It was noted that while Stevenage continued to
make progress towards the national net zero target, achieving this
by 2030 would require ongoing legislative and financial support
from central Government.
 
Cabinet paid tribute to those Officers and
Members who had worked to ensure Stevenage was in the forefront of
the Climate Change agenda.  Members were
pleased to note that all new developments in the town were taking
on the best environmental standards in Climate Change quality
assurance guarantees.
 
Members were keen to ensure that all
Councillors used their Climate Change Community Fund for
opportunities in their wards to fund schemes to improve the
environment in their areas.
 
It was RESOLVED that:
 
1. 
That the progress made in delivering the 2020 Stevenage Climate
Change Strategy over the past year across the eight strategic areas
be noted. Of particular note is Stevenage’s lowest historical
GHG emissions in 2023, delivering a 7.2% decrease from 2022 levels,
and 22.6% lower than in the baseline year (2018) resulting in
Stevenage’s per capita emissions in 2023 being lower than
county, regional, and national averages.

2. 
That work to secure ongoing external funding, partnerships, and
income-generating opportunities be endorsed, particularly in terms
of renewable energy generation, to support delivery of the 2030
net-zero target and build long-term resilience.

3. 
That authority be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Environment
and Climate Change to review and update the Strategy over the
coming year as required, to ensure it continues to align with the
Council’s corporate priorities.