Green light given for west Cheshire’s new Climate Emergency Response Plan
Cheshire West and Chester Council have approved the latest version of the borough’s plan to address the Climate Emergency at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting (9 July 2025).
The west Cheshire Climate Emergency Response Plan, which received cross party support, will be used as a guide to help the borough to achieve its target to reach net zero by 2045 and help create greener communities.
West Cheshire declared a Climate Emergency in 2019, with the first Climate Emergency Response Plan for the borough developed in 2021. The new plan will cover the period from 2025 to 2030.
Since the previous plan was adopted, west Cheshire has made significant progress towards achieving its target of becoming net zero, with borough-wide greenhouse gas emissions reducing from 4.3 million tonnes in 2018 to 3.2 million tonnes in 2022*.
The latest plan highlights the borough’s action towards net zero to date with achievements including:
- More than £9 million in grants secured from central Government to help deliver energy, housing retrofit and natural environment projects in west Cheshire.
- The Council acting as the accountable body for the national Trees for Climate Programme, which has delivered more trees than any other programme in the UK in recent years.
- Launching the Origin cluster, creating greater collaboration between industrial businesses in the Ellesmere Port area.
- Launching the Solar Together programme which has helped hundreds of people get competitively priced Solar panels and/or batteries for their homes.
- A reduction in the Council’s operational greenhouse gas emissions from 51,362 tCO2e in 2014-15 to 11,836.7 tCO2e in 2023-24.
The new Climate Emergency Response Plan, which was developed after an extensive consultation last year, sets out priorities for the borough and key actions the Council, partners and communities can take under six key theme areas.
- Business and industry
- Transport
- Housing
- Energy
- Land use, adaptation and repair
- Waste, recycling and the circular economy
Cllr Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “Each year we’re reminded of the consequences of climate change, from more extreme weather, including one of the driest springs to date, to incidents of flooding and wild fires. We also continue to be one of the top ten highest-emitting local authorities in the UK. This presents us with an opportunity to be at the centre of green industry in this country, an area that will create high-quality, accessible jobs at all skill levels for years to come.
“We’ve already made some fantastic strides to help us reach our net zero targets including action by our local communities, such as helping to increase our recycling rates. By continuing to work together to become a net zero borough and taking collective action to address climate change we can also address inequalities, create greener communities and future proof our area to adapt to our changing climate.”
The Climate Emergency Response Plan for 2025 – 2030 can be viewed on the Council’s website.
To keep up to date with action taking place across the borough to address the climate crisis visit the Council’s Climate Emergency Inspire Hub and sign up to our monthly enewsletter.
