The future is officially looking bright and sustainable for Folkestone & Hythe! The district’s ambitious blueprint for achieving Net Zero by 2041 has received a resounding, unanimous backing from cabinet members, paving the way for immediate action and a greener tomorrow.
This comprehensive Carbon Plan isn’t just a document; it’s a bold action list featuring 54 exciting initiatives designed to tackle climate change head-on and build a truly resilient, sustainable district!
Key Initiatives for a Brighter Future:
- Powering Up Renewables: A major push to decarbonise electricity generation through cutting-edge renewable sources.
- Warm Homes, Low Carbon: Shifting building heating away from fossil fuels and towards clean, low-carbon alternatives.
- Easy, Green Travel: Significant investment in improving public transport, cycling routes, and infrastructure to make sustainable travel the easy choice.
Crucially, this plan is a true collaboration! It proudly integrates suggestions from residents, ensuring no one is left behind. New measures include targeted support for low-income and vulnerable households and localised, common-sense approaches like urban cooling and flood risk reduction.
With over 450 public consultation respondents deeming the 2041 goal both ambitious and achievable, the community is clearly onboard! While the council’s direct emissions are small (just 0.4% of the district’s total), they are stepping up to play a massive, pivotal role—supporting, enabling, and influencing every resident, business, and organisation to join this transformative journey.
Now that the plan is approved and the energy is high, it’s time for action which could make Folkestone & Hythe a vibrant, Net Zero success story!
Cllr Stephen Scoffham – Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Biodiversity – said:
“Our shared vision is for an energy-resilient district where green jobs are created to support a vibrant local economy.
“We aim for robust local businesses and supply chains, equitable and energy-efficient homes ready for extreme weather, enriched biodiversity, strong public infrastructure and clean, green streets free from pollution, litter and plastic.
“But we don’t want this to become a strategy that just gathers dust on the shelf – it’s now about working together with government support, private investment and community action.
“There are very real and positive actions we can all take to transition to the low-carbon district so many people want to achieve.
“The carbon plan supports the council’s newly adopted corporate plan (Our District: Our World) and relates directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”
Folkestone & Hythe District Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and has been working on reducing its emissions ever since, with the aim to be net zero across its operations by 2030.