Cabinet approves Climate Change Challenge Plan
THE Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Cabinet has approved proposals to help tackle the climate emergency it declared in 2019.
Two years ago, the Council joined Welsh Government and other Local Authorities across the UK in announcing its commitment to addressing climate change.
Since then, improvements have been made to recycling arrangements, Council buildings are more energy efficient and work has taken place to encourage active travel.
Recently, the Climate Change Challenge Plan, which sets out the organisation’s response to a number of environmental issues, was endorsed and will now be considered at a full Council meeting later this month.
It has been updated following a consultation exercise in which the public and partner organisations were invited to share their views.
The plan describes the positive changes that can be made in areas such as transport, food, waste, buildings, land and energy and is part of Project Zero, the Council’s blueprint to become carbon neutral by 2030.
Covid-19 has brought about an acceleration in many of these areas, with increased working from home, greater use of technology to support online meetings and less travel connected with work.
New school buildings are also being designed with the goal of reducing or eliminating carbon emissions and Llancarfan Primary School is on course to be Wales’ first net zero carbon school (in operation).
Cllr Neil Moore, Leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, said: “Since declaring a climate emergency, the Council has made a variety of changes to the way in which it operates in order to become greener.
“However, it is clear that to achieve our ambitious target of net-zero emissions by 2030, we need to go further still.
“The Climate Change Challenge Plan not only sets out the Authority’s route forwards, but also recognises our responsibility to the wider community. As an organisation, we must lead by example, supporting our partners and residents to make meaningful changes.
“I would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation on our plan and I look forward to continuing the dialogue as we all work together to take steps to reduce our negative impact on the environment.”