Reducing fuel and food poverty and improving the population’s wellbeing are the ‘urgent’ priorities due to be considered, in a tweak to a major Isle of Wight climate plan.
The environment and community protection committee (ECPC) will decide whether to approve the Environmental Improvement and Climate Adaptation Strategy 2021 – 2040 Review and Refresh 2025 at its Thursday evening meeting (29th January).
County Hall’s Climate and Environment Strategy 2021 – 2040 sets out the council’s aims and targets to reach net-carbon zero in its own operations and as an Island by 2030 and 2040 respectively.
The phrase net-zero refers to cutting carbon emissions to a small amount or residual emissions which can be absorbed and durably stored by nature and other carbon dioxide removal measures, leaving zero in the atmosphere – according to the United Nations (UN).
Both Isle of Wight communities and the Island’s local authority have made ‘significant achievements’ towards the original strategy’s goals, with an overall 27% Island-wide carbon reduction and 37% within council activities, County Hall has said.
Introducing the Review and Refresh paper, Cllr Karen Lucioni, ECPC chair, said:
“The global impact of our changing climate requires careful thought and strategies to ensure that we can as a community and as a local authority make changes that will have a positive impact on reducing harmful consequences, continually improving the environment in which we live.
“This document and the updated Action Plan attached, is creating a sustainable future for our Island and, together with other strategies and plans in existence and those being developed, will support our valuable yet fragile environment and our status as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.”
Article continues below this advertisement
The 2025 strategy refresh reorders the council’s environment and climate response around three ‘urgent and interconnected priorities’: reducing fuel poverty, lowering food poverty and improving population wellbeing.
It says County Hall’s focus is shifting from ‘abstract carbon targets’ to ‘practical, place-based solutions’ reducing fossil fuel dependency, enhancing local food systems and building resilience to climate effects.
Actions areas listed include improving housing energy efficiency to lower bills and reduce cold-related illness, supporting community food growing and redistribution to address hunger and promote sustainable diets and investing in nature-based solutions which deliver cleaner air, flood protection, biodiversity and mental health benefits.
The paper refers to steps specifically relating to council operations such as transitioning council buildings to low-carbon heating and renewable electricity, electrifying the council fleet and improving building fabric to reduce energy demand and overheating risk.
Those connected to Island-wide efforts include supporting community-led renewable energy projects as well as the promotion of active travel and low-carbon transport options.
Climate adaptation is also mentioned as central to the council’s approach.
“As the Island faces warmer summers, wetter winters, and increased coastal risks, we must prepare our infrastructure, homes, and services to withstand and thrive under changing conditions,”
The document says.
“This includes cooling homes, protecting coastlines, restoring ecosystems, and ensuring access to clean water and healthy food.”
ECPC will meet at County Hall at 17:00.
Net zero is a dream.
The island is full of dirty diesel and petrol vehicles
polluting the island.
Keep the dream going!
Electric cars pollute where the rare earth metals are dug and electricity is produced . Heavier battery cars break roads up more and pollute when batteries can’t be recycled.
The environment and community protection committee (ECPC) will tonight decide whether to approve the Environmental Improvement and Climate Adaptation Strategy 2021 – 2040 Review and Refresh 2025, which sets out the council’s aims and targets to reach net-carbon zero by 2030, less than 4 years hence.
Excellent.
I hope they will also discuss the economy, regeneration, transport and infrastructure committee (ERTIC) decision to adopt the Island Transport Plan 4 which will “maximise every opportunity to work in partnership with bus, rail and ferry operators, sustainable transport organisations, the NHS, public sector, private sector and voluntary and charitable organisations, to encourage and help people switch from cars to cycling, walking and public transport.”
If residents are unable to cycle or walk and live nowhere near a bus route – bad luck!
Both of these superb pieces of virtue signalling will no doubt lead to the enrichment of all Councillors through extra payments for “sitting” on these Ponzi Scheme Committees, whilst further impoverishing Council Tax payers when the huge rise is revealed for April.
If there were safe cycle lanes islandwide I would
start cycling, the island is years away from
net zero
Have these people complaining about poverty tried being more careful with their money?
Reduce food and fuel poverty yet increase water and council tax.
And then you get big mouth enough is enough mouthing off about trying to be more careful with their money
Maybe put his money where his mouth is .
Everyone’s situation is different and a lot of people have been squeezed dry and yet they still demand more .
The fat dogs at the top
The small worker ants at the bottom
It’s going to get worse
Talking shop designed to give reasons to tax you more and restrict you. Fuel prices rocketed due to net zero.
Maybe say stop,vape ,tattoos ,video games and streaming costs first.
Wind power and solar are driving costs up.