West Berkshire Council
West Berkshire Council launched the UK's first public council green investment to help it go carbon neutral by 2030.
West Berkshire Council has ambitious plans to tackle the climate crisis. The council unanimously declared a climate emergency on 2nd July 2019 and since then, they’ve been busy taking the first steps to tackle it. it set a target for West Berkshire to become carbon neutral by 2030 - twenty years ahead of the government target. Their plans revolve around key themes of sustainable transport, buildings, energy, waste and resource efficiency, and the natural environment.
In 2020 they became the first Council in the UK to launch a public green investment, and their involvement in this innovative the project has won a number of awards including a Public Finance Award, has featured on the inaugural Net Zero 50 list and been shortlisted for two Local Government Chronicle Awards.
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How investors' money has been used
Projects funded by the investment are spread across a wide range of the council's key environmental priorities. It has funded retro-fitting traffic lights, at 17 locations, with LEDs as well as upgrading some subway lighting to LED in order to reduce the energy consumption. The council has also installed six solar panel roofs across six council owned buildings, including Building 150 (Greenham Common), The Phoenix Centre, Market Street Council Offices, two schools and a leisure centre.
The council has also funded greening projects, including habitat restoration, regeneration through a partnership with the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) will increase local flora and fauna as well as improving residents access to green spaces. It has also supported tree and hedge row planting as part of the Dunstan Green, Siege Cross Park, Floral Way Reservoir and South East Thatcham Flood and Floral way Reservoir Alleviation Scheme to protect over 570 properties whilst creating habitats for local wildlife.
Delivering net zero carbon across the community
West Berkshire Council's refreshed Environment Strategy [2MB] outlines the steps it intends to take with its partners to reach its target of net zero carbon for the council, and to play its part in working towards net zero for the district as soon as practicable.
The council believes that climate change is a serious threat, and it must act now if it is to respond to the danger this poses to our people, our wildlife and our environment. Its ambitious Environment Strategy highlights the fact that everyone in the community has a part to play in responding to this challenge.
