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
- Prepare for winter flooding
- New rules for clearing out furniture
- Help us recycle more during the festive season
- New One Stop Shop energy saving service for households
- Celebrating Surrey Nature Day
- Transforming a rooftop at a school into an urban wildlife haven
- Take our food waste challenge this autumn
- Surrey residents benefit from Solar Together
- Grow your business with BetterPoints
- Solar panel buying scheme for residents re-launches
- Community bike refurbishment project a success
- New ZERO Premises Opens On Guildford High Street
- Home Energy Advice Taskforce
- Sign up to support tree planting in Surrey
- Six great cycle routes to get you from A to B
- Five easy ways to improve your recycling
- M25 full weekend closure 12 to 15 July
- The River Thames Scheme's Ecological Efforts
- The River Thames Scheme
- Looking back at a busy tree planting season
- A round up of tree success
- Helping us reach our green goal
- Adapting to Climate Change in Surrey
- Free training for trades
- Who is delivering the River Thames Scheme?
- Preparing for potholes
- A day in the life of a Surrey Highways team
- Your Fund Surrey supporting green projects
- What are green careers?
- Travelling actively and safely around schools
- Free grant to help heat your home
- What is the Green Infrastructure of the River Thames Scheme?
- Getting the right highways help
