Introduction
In 2020, South Ribble Borough Council adopted its first Climate Emergency Strategy, pledging to make the Borough carbon neutral by 2030. This was backed up by an Action Plan published in 2021.
This document is a revision of that original Action Plan which sits alongside the updated Climate Emergency Strategy. It covers actions to be considered to 2030. It is designed to be forward thinking and aspirational in a world where technological change is occurring at pace, where grant funding for projects is unpredictable and the outcomes of Local Government Reorganisation are still unknown. It sets a direction of travel even though the route to the final destination is unclear.
The Climate Emergency Action Plan identifies seven key themes where actions need to be taken across the Council and the Borough. Many will need a collaboration of partners and funding to be implemented successfully. Other actions may be amended by emerging technologies and future policy changes internationally, nationally or locally.
- Management – How the Council organises, monitors, and reports climate actions.
- Energy – Actions to reduce energy use and switch to renewable sources across Council operations and the wider Borough.
- Transport – Measures to cut emissions from vehicles, promote active travel, and expand electric vehicle infrastructure.
- Waste and consumption – Initiatives to reduce waste, increase recycling, and encourage sustainable purchasing and resource use.
- Adaptation, resilience and mitigation – Steps to prepare for climate impacts, strengthen community resilience, and reduce risks.
- Sustainable development – Ensuring new initiatives meet low-carbon standards and protect biodiversity.
- Education and engagement – Raising awareness and involving residents, landowners, businesses, and schools in climate action.
The Council has 3 spheres of influence within the Borough
- Exemplar – To set our own high standards and be a model of good practice for the Borough.
- Enabler – To play our part in partnership working, sharing responsibility, facilitating, coordinating and promoting projects.
- Encourager – To provide information, support and introductions that will make a positive contribution to our aims for biodiversity, air quality and the climate emergency.
In implementing our actions, we are seeking to act as a community leader, setting high standards and working collaboratively to show the changes and improvements that can be achieved, so that we are able to help others across the borough do the same.
There will be an annual update on progress taken to Council each autumn alongside the Biodiversity and Air Quality reports. This Action Plan will be reviewed in 2030.
This Action Plan links and crosses over with the existing Biodiversity and Air Quality Action Plans. In time they will all be incorporated into one single Action Plan.
This Action Plan was produced following a public consultation undertaken in 2025 and we would like to thank all those that took the time to share their views.