The Council unanimously declared, on 21 May 2019, that the borough is in a Climate Emergency.

The Council agreed that:

Climate Change presents a threat to our way of life
the Council recognised the need to act in-line with worldwide agreements on Climate Change and the best available evidence, which states that, to limit emissions to 1.5°C, there is a requirement to reach 'net zero' by 2045
the Council must play its part by evidencing leadership on this issue.

Climate Emergency response plans

The Council has worked with and engaged a range of partners, climate experts, community groups and businesses to understand the challenges and opportunities the Climate Emergency presents for our area. Two plans have been produced setting out these challenges and the actions that will be taken to achieve carbon neutrality in the borough. The first is the Climate Emergency Response Plan which focuses on the borough wide response to the climate crisis. The second is the Carbon Management Plan which focuses on the Council's response.

The Climate Emergency Response Plan

The Climate Emergency response plan sets out the scale of the challenge that we face, as a borough, to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. The plan is guided by scientific evidence on the current state of emissions in west Cheshire and the engagement and intervention planning undertaken since the Climate Emergency was declared in May 2019. It outlines the action required to achieve carbon neutrality, and how the delivery of these actions will be tracked.

The key highlights of the Climate Emergency Response Plan can be viewed in a digital version of the document.

Key achievements

Tackling the Climate Emergency

Tackling the Poverty Emergency

Growing our local economy and deliver good jobs with fair wages for our residents

Supporting children and young people to make the best start in life and achieve their full potential

Enabling more adults to live longer, healthier, happier lives

Neighbourhoods that are even better places to call home

An efficient and empowering Council

We are proud of our achievements, but we are not complacent and will focus on the following priorities