Tackling climate change and reducing Surrey's carbon footprint
Since we declared a climate emergency in 2019, we have been making strides towards reducing our own carbon emissions here at Surrey County Council, as well as supporting residents make changes to help tackle climate change. Our mission is to reach net zero as an organisation by 2030, and as a county with your support by 2050.
How we've reduced our organisation's emissions
We have looked at our buildings, vehicles and streetlights in the county to reduce our carbon footprint. Here are some of our achievements:
- 7% of our vehicle fleet is now low carbon
- Assessed 83 buildings to determine their low carbon potential
- 3,300 staff undertaken climate change awareness training
- Installed 83,000 low energy street lights across the county
- Saved £2.8 million in annual energy bill through energy efficiency
How we've supported residents and businesses to reduce carbon emissions
Whether it's through grants, initiatives or practical steps like electric vehicle charging sessions, here are some of the things we have been doing across the county to tackle climate change:
- Facilitated the planting of 470,000 trees
- 31 electric buses operating in the county
- 13,000 electric vehicle charging sessions across the county
- 88 Eco-Schools awarded green flag status
- Saved 20,000 tonnes of carbon
- 1,350 homes which are fuel poor have been treated
- £1,913,782 of grants awarded to support small to medium-sized businesses to improve their energy efficiency, resulting in an annual saving of £821,000.
To find out more about tackling climate change in Surrey, visit our climate change webpage.
More from greener futures
- Six great cycle routes to get you from A to B
- Helping us reach our green goal
- Join Surrey’s movement to reduce waste
- Travelling actively and safely around schools
- Your Fund Surrey supporting green projects
- What are green careers?
- What is the Green Infrastructure of the River Thames Scheme?
- Free grant to help heat your home
- A day in the life of a Surrey Highways team
- M25 junction 10 road closures and heathland restoration
- Preparing for potholes
- Getting the right highways help
- Responding to flooding in Surrey
- Who is delivering the River Thames Scheme?
- Travel along the Guildford stretch of the A3?
- The River Thames Scheme Consultation has ended
- Our response to Storm Henk
- A round up of tree success
- Adapting to Climate Change in Surrey
- Free training for trades
- Recycle today, to help local services tomorrow
- Proposed new recycling facility for Surrey
- The River Thames Scheme
