Introduction

Somerset’s Climate Emergency Strategy was developed jointly by the five Somerset local authorities, sector experts and external partners following a public consultation that took place in January 2020 and was formally adopted by all five Councils in November 2020.

The aim of our strategy is to reduce carbon emissions in the county and make Somerset a county resilient to the inevitable effects of Climate Change.

Our strategy provides some high-level detail explaining what climate change is and what causes it, where carbon emissions arise from globally, nationally and locally and what the impacts will be here in Somerset. Our strategy sets ambitious goals to become a carbon-neutral county by 2030 and also outlines what the previous five councils and now Somerset Council intend to do to address the most important issues around the Climate and Ecological Emergency

Strategy

• Towards a Climate Resilient Somerset – Somerset’s Climate Emergency Strategy
• Somerset’s Climate Emergency Strategy Summary

Appendices

1. Appendix 1 – The Five Somerset Council’s Climate Emergency Declarations
2. Appendix 2 – Key Climate Change Terms
3. Appendix 3 – Climate Emergency Framework Consultation (SCAN) Report
4. Appendix 4 – The Five Somerset Council’s and Exmoor National Park’s Environmental or Carbon Management Plans
5. Appendix 5 – Climate Change Legislation
6. Appendix 6 – CE Strategy Energy Sector Detailed Report
7. Appendix 7 – CE Strategy Transport Sector Detailed Report
8. Appendix 8 – CE Strategy Built Environment Sector Detailed Report
9. Appendix 9 – CE Strategy Business, Industry and Supply Chain Sector Detailed Report
10. Appendix 10 – CE Strategy Natural Environment Sector Detailed Report
11. Appendix 11 – CE Strategy Farming and Food Sector Detailed Report
12. Appendix 12 – CE Strategy Water Sector Detailed Report
13. Appendix 13 – CE Strategy Waste and Resources Sector Detailed Report
14. Appendix 14 – CE Strategy Communication Sector Detailed Report
15. Appendix 15 – CE Strategy Outcomes Table
16. Appendix 16 – Summary Action Plan
17. Appendix 17 – CE Strategy Carbon Measurement Tool Analysis (SCAN Report)
18. Report on the public consultation on Somerset Climate Emergency

Somerset Electric Vehicle Strategy

This EV Strategy describes how the use of conventionally fuelled petrol and diesel vehicles must transition to ‘Zero Emission’ Electric vehicles, in line with national policy, as well as setting out the opportunities and the challenges that this will bring as we look to decarbonise transport across Somerset to help tackle the Climate Emergency.

We are now working together to deliver on the numerous recommendations, including cutting our own fleet emissions and delivering EV charging infrastructure across the county.

Somerset Electric Vehicle Strategy

Sustainable Events Guidance

For guidance and information on how to make your event more sustainable check out our guidance:

Event Sustainability Webpage Draft

Event Sustainability Webpage Draft

PDF, 158kb

Previous Council Strategies

To view any of the five previous Somerset council strategies head over to our Previous Council’s Work and click on the council you’re interested in

• Somerset County Council
• Mendip
• South Somerset
• Somerset West and Taunton
• Sedgemoor