A REVISED Essex Climate Action Plan which will see a 25% increase in climate-related investment has been approved by Essex County Council’s Cabinet.

The plan is a revised version of the original Essex Climate Action Plan, which was announced in November 2021 when the Cabinet adopted, in full, the Essex Climate Action Commission’s recommendations for Essex in its report, Net Zero: Making Essex Carbon Neutral. 

The council’s commitment to climate change is emphasised by the significant increase in investment in the Climate Action Plan of £50 million. The committed investment has risen to £250 million, from the original £200 million.

The new Climate Action Plan is in line with the council’s Everyone’s Essex Strategy, in which one of the four strategic aims is a core commitment to a High Quality Environment.

The original plan outlined how the council would tackle climate change from 2021 to 2025. The new revised version focuses on how the council will continue to strive towards net zero targets until 2025.

This plan does not remove any commitments from the November 2021 plan, other than those which have been delivered already. It adds in new commitments, sets out what has been achieved and sets out commitments from November 2021 which have yet to be delivered.

Following the Commission’s report, the Climate Action Plan categorises climate projects into six core themes: Land Use & Green Infrastructure, Energy, Built Environment, Transport, Waste and Community Engagement.

Speaking on the report, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste Reduction and Recycling and Climate Czar, Cllr Peter Schwier said: “This plan showcases just how much the council prioritises environment and reaching net zero targets.

“Despite having an already effective and ambitious Climate Action Plan in place, we have continued to strive towards improving our efforts and commitments, to ensure Essex is doing everything it can to reach net zero targets and enhance its natural environment.”

Information on the progress towards reaching net zero targets can be found in the Essex Climate Action Annual Report.

ENDS