Introduction
Sedgemoor District Council declared a Climate Emergency in March 2019 and in July 2022 declared an Ecological Emergency. The council’s Climate Emergency Strategy and Action Plan was published in 2021 and approved by their Full Council on 22nd February 2021. Their joint Ecological Action Plan in partnership with Somerset West and Taunton District Council was published in July 2022.
Climate Strategy and Ecological Emergency Action Plans
Their Climate Strategy and Ecological Emergency Action Plan can all be seen below along with a consultation report run by Somerset Climate Action Network.
- Sedgemoor Climate Emergency Strategy 2021
- Sedgemoor Climate Emergency Action Plan 2021
- Climate Emergency Supporting Evidence 2021
- Somerset Climate Action Network consultation report 2021
- Sedgemoor Ecological Emergency Vision
- Sedgemoor Ecological Emergency Action Plan
Some of the actions taken by Sedgemoor District Council towards their Climate Strategy included
- Replacing 416 streetlights in car parks, housing estate walkways with LED bulbs. Reducing electricity consumption by 60%.
- 24 of the 30 our car park ticket machines have been replaced so they are powered by solar and not mains electricity.
- Installing tap aerators in the taps here at their main offices Bridgwater House in Bridgwater, to save water. Installing LED lights at Bridgwater House to reduce electricity consumption.
- Running an electric and a hybrid (electric/petrol) pool car since 2015. The all-electric car saved 12,569kg carbon over 4 years.
- Adopted a transport strategy with a focus on encouraging more sustainable transport including cycling and walking – The Bridgwater Way.
- The first Council in Somerset to adopt a single-use plastic policy.
Sustainable Sedgemoor Newsletter
Sedgemoor ran a monthly newsletter for their climate champions updating on climate activity across their district. All previous editions of Sustainable Sedgemoor can be found here.