Climate change action plan

We want to have a positive impact for future generations on Aldershot and Farnborough’s environment. We will do this by working with businesses, communities and organisations. Through direct action and by encouraging and supporting others, we will address the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change.

We declared a climate emergency in Rushmoor in 2019, with the full support of all councillors. Our councillors pledged to make the council carbon neutral. They also pledged to make Aldershot and Farnborough greener and more sustainable.

Our Climate Change Strategy 2025 to 2028 sets out how we plan to become carbon neutral and work on our action plan over the next three years. Our strategy shows the important role we have in tackling climate as a leader, facilitator, enabler and deliverer of services to Aldershot and Farnborough and beyond.

Actions we are taking

We have agreed the following set of actions to help us be carbon neutral by 2030 and to make Aldershot and Farnborough more sustainable.

1. Consider opportunities arising to reduce gas consumption and increase renewable energy generation, including continued commitment to review the feasibility of transitioning electricity across the Council’s sites to 100% renewable tariffs
2. To continue to explore options for switching the Council’s remaining vehicles to lower carbon alternatives, as well as exploring opportunities to work with contractors on the Council’s broader fleet. To continue to support the improvement of access to electric vehicle charging facilities across the Borough
3. To review processes for the Council’s capital programme so that environmental impacts are incorporated into business case development and whole life cycle carbon assessments are undertaken. To develop and introduce Climate Change Impact Assessments (CCIA) for new Council projects and proposals
4. Identify and reduce the use of single use plastics across all council buildings and events
5. To develop the Council’s offsetting approach with a view to ensuring that any offsetting undertaken by the Council has a local impact
6. To use the council’s communications channels (including through member engagement) to promote opportunities for residents and local businesses to reduce their own carbon footprint, including promoting schemes to the improve energy efficiency of their home or business
7. To use the Council’s communications channels (including through Member engagement) to promote opportunities for residents and local businesses to reduce their own carbon footprint, including promoting schemes to improve the energy efficiency of their home or business
8. Continue to engage with the wider community on climate change, to allow residents to find out more of how they can reduce their negative environmental impact. This includes the annual Eco Fair, development of the Rushmoor Climate Community Group and community initiatives
9. To encourage and promote active travel, by removing barriers and promoting initiatives, which will also lead to improved health and wellbeing
10. To review, update and publish the Council’s carbon footprint on an annual basis, publish an annual report detailing all that the Council has achieved in relation to its climate action plan and associated strategies (e.g. Green Infrastructure Plan). To publish the Council’s Climate Action Scorecard, assessed by Climate Emergency UK, with commentary to provide context

We have brought in independent advice on our target-setting.

We got feedback from the Rushmoor Climate Community Group about our climate change policy and plans.

Our action plan is not a full list of everything we are doing to reduce our carbon footprint. Many actions we do are now part of our business-as-usual work.

Annual Report 2023/24

Our climate change annual report for 2023/24 sets out the progress against the action plan. It is also a summary of work from related strategies and other climate change work that happens throughout the year.

Working with Hampshire County Council

Hampshire County Council has its own climate change action plan that covers the whole of Hampshire. It has the aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 and to prepare to be resilient to the impacts of a possible 2oC temperature rise.

We are also working with Hampshire County Council on climate change initiatives.