Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. While some variations are natural, human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, have significantly accelerated these changes, leading to global warming and its impacts.
Our commitments
Harlow Council is dedicated to addressing the challenges of climate change. Our initiatives include:
- declaring a climate emergency in 2019, emphasising our commitment to action
- aiming for net zero by 2040, 10 years ahead of the national target
- producing a carbon reduction plan to reduce our emissions
- producing a climate change strategy, outlining 7 key objectives to fight climate change
Our strategy
We have produced a climate change strategy (pdf) aimed at tackling climate change and reducing carbon emissions in Harlow.
You can also read a shorter summary of the strategy (pdf)
The strategy sets out 7 key objectives:
- To achieve net zero emissions from the council’s operational buildings, land, vehicles, and services, including those provided by service delivery partners.
- To achieve net zero emissions from all homes and the built environment within Harlow.
- To reduce consumption of resources, reduce waste and increase reuse and recycling in Harlow.
- To adopt good stewardship of the natural environment across the town to support both climate change adaptation and mitigation.
- To achieve a significant modal shift towards more sustainable means of transport.
- To promote reduction of emissions by businesses to net zero, supported by a successful green economy.
- To lead and encourage local communities, partners and stakeholders to reduce their emissions and contribute positively to meeting the challenges posed by climate change.
What we have done so far
We have already taken significant steps, including:
- planting over 2,000 additional trees to improve green spaces and absorb carbon
- replacing several HTS vehicles with electric vehicles
- creating several flood alleviation schemes that will reduce surface water flooding
- installing solar panels on 5 of our buildings and LED lighting in most of our buildings
- beginning work on an improved bus station and sustainable transport corridor
- improving efficiency in our waste collection service