Cornwall’s Climate Emergency Development Plan will be open for public consultation from today (August 10)

In January 2019, Cornwall Council declared a climate emergency. A development plan was then needed to support carbon reduction in Cornwall through planning policies.

Now, residents and businesses are being asked to have their say.

Cornwall Council has been nationally recognised for its proactive approach to tackling climate change, and the climate emergency development plan document (DPD) builds on actions already underway, which include:

Planting a Forest for Cornwall which will eventually cover 8,000 hectares and capture up to 38,000 tonnes of carbon each year.  

Retrofitting Cornwall Housing homes to make them more energy efficient.   

Investing in a 3mw wind turbine and two deep geothermal projects.  

Working to significantly increase the number of electric vehicle charging points across Cornwall 

The DPD covers areas such as the building of energy efficient homes, the creation of cycleways and footpaths, and building resilience to flooding. If adopted, the plan will become a legal document.

Edwina Hannaford, Liberal Democrat portfolio holder for Climate Change and Neighbourhoods said:   

’We are facing a new emergency in Covid-19, but the climate emergency is already with us. It may have a slower lead in time but nonetheless, it is an emergency which we have to respond to with the same level of urgency and fortitude. As with Covid, I believe that climate change will affect all parts of our society, but will most affect those least able to respond not just locally but globally.

’I strongly support the need to attack one of the main areas at the root cause of climate change, namely the way we generate the energy we need. We have largely decarbonised electricity generation but we will have to respond to a growing demand for electricity as we move away from fossil fuels and use of gas to heat our homes, another large carbon emitting area.

’The climate change development plan will provide the policy context for increasing the generation of more renewable energy, essential to us striving to our goal of net carbon neutrality by 2030.’

There are also social benefits to these actions, says Edwina: for instance better insulated homes help to address fuel poverty.

’There are clear links between human health and wellbeing and access to the environment, through cycle routes and sustainable public transport,and of course environmental benefits in protecting trees and hedges.’

For more information on Cornwall Council’s climate change action plan see www.cornwall.gov.uk/climatechange

Anyone who can’t access the internet or needs a paper copy of the DPD should write to Climate Emergency DPD, New County Hall, TRURO TR1 1XU or telephone 0300 1234 151.