Climate change and sustainability

Climate and ecological emergency

We are seeing the effects of climate change now. The UK's 10 warmest years on record have all occurred since 2002 and this isn’t just affecting us, but nature, too. Did you know that one in five species is Hertfordshire is now either threatened with extinction or has become extinct?

We firmly believe in the power of collective action. Individual actions do make a difference as they account for approximately 40 per cent of global carbon emissions. By thinking globally and acting locally we can work together to build a sustainable future for Dacorum, which will have a wider positive impact on our planet.

Because of these threats to our global and local environment, in 2019 we declared a climate and ecological emergency and made this one of our six corporate priorities. We have pledged to become net zero as an organisation by 2030, and net zero as a borough by 2050.

While the majority of the borough's emissions are outside of our direct control, we pledge to support individuals, community groups, businesses and schools to become net zero by 2050. This particular target is the responsibility of everyone and we all have an important part to play.

Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy

To help us achieve our net zero pledges, and support residents and businesses to get involved, we have developed a  Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy (PDF 7MB), which provides a range of information, including:

  • Our key objectives
  • Information on our carbon emissions - both as an organisation and a borough
  • Our plan for action - including what we and the community can do
  • The key areas we are focusing on and why:

Under each of these key areas we provide an outline of our actions, our support for others and actionable steps you can take as an individual.

Most importantly, we must all work together to reduce carbon emissions throughout the borough. By joining forces, we can create a sustainable and resilient community for the benefit of current and future generations.

Dacorum Climate Action Network

While we work to reduce our own carbon emissions, we understand that we can have the biggest impact by working with you and supporting you to reduce your carbon emissions.

We launched the Dacorum Climate Action Network (Dacorum CAN) in 2021 for this reason.

Dacorum CAN brings together local individuals and organisations to "think global and act local".

Find out more about Dacorum Climate Action Network and how to join as an individual or an organisation.

Green Community Grants

To support the borough in reducing emissions, improving biodiversity and living more sustainably, each year we provide Green Community Grant funding to local groups. Groups can apply for up to £3,000 to support with their environmental projects. Find out more about the Green Community Grant.

Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership (HCCSP)

The partnership is made up of members from all local district and borough councils, Hertfordshire County Council, and the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

This means Hertfordshire is better able to work together to share information and progress joint interventions around climate change and sustainability. More information can be found on the HCCSP website.

HCCSP has created a Sustainability Guide, which shares ideas and information about how you can take action in your home and your local community to help us thrive alongside nature in Hertfordshire.

Dacorum Councillor Adrian England has recently been chosen as the Chair of the HCCSP.

Carbon Literacy accreditation

We're proud to become the first borough council in the UK to achieve a Silver level Carbon Literate Organisation accreditation.

To be fully equipped for helping the borough reduce its carbon emissions as much, and as quickly as possible, we worked with APSE Energy to deliver Carbon Literacy Training to 60 of our employees, including our Chief Executive, Claire Hamilton, making her the second ever CEO of a council in the UK to achieve this.

The Carbon Literacy training course has been recognised by the United Nations at COP21 - the Paris Climate Conference - where it was chosen as one of 100 worldwide Transformative Action Programs. 

We're working hard to reach our environmental goals and being recognised as a carbon literate organisation is just one of the many steps that we are putting in place to help reduce our carbon emissions. 

Contact us

If you would like more information, or if you have a specific request, please email us at climate.action@dacorum.gov.uk.

Page Last Updated: Monday, 04 December 2023 at 10:11 AM