What is climate change?
What is climate change?
Climate change refers to the impact on the climate (temperature and weather patterns) as a result of higher concentrations of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, causing accelerated global warming. This is a result of many different human activities such as burning fossil fuels (e.g. gas, coal and oil) intensified agriculture, polluting industrial processes and the clearance of vegetation. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) trap heat in the atmosphere which would otherwise escape into space.
Although this is a global issue, urgent efforts must be made by the council along with the town’s residents and businesses to halt carbon emissions and remove the greenhouse gases from the atmosphere to prevent unsustainable global warming resulting in catastrophic sea level rising and increased intensity and frequency of natural disasters.
Our climate commitment
On 9th July 2019, the Council’s Executive Committee declared a Climate Emergency and resolved to start working towards becoming carbon neutral by 2030. Our commitment is that by 2030 our own operations will be cleaner, more efficient and net zero-carbon, whilst also taking a role in enabling the wider Borough to achieve net-zero emissions through demonstrating leadership in the early actions taken to reduce emissions.
This resolution confirmed our continued commitment to achieving a reduction in carbon emissions from our own activities and delivering the aims of our Corporate Plan.
Our Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan document acts as the starting point for the development of an ongoing Climate Change Strategy for Ipswich Borough Council and focuses on our proposed approach for tackling climate change. This is a vital strategic task which will ensure we have a robust plan for reducing emissions from our own land, buildings, fleet and assets.
The following report covers the annual period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022:
Our Green House Gas Emissions Update 2020/21 document details our progress as of 31 March 2021:
Tree planting and reducing the heat island effect
Ipswich Borough Council has an ambitious target, set in 2019 to increase our canopy cover to 22% by 2050. Increasing canopy cover not only increases the number of trees to absorb carbon dioxide, but it also has other benefits such as improving air quality, reducing flood risk and reducing the urban heat island effect. Trees also have the additional benefit of improving the aesthetics of an area and improving mental health.
Our efforts in increasing canopy cover has been recognised by our annual status as a Tree City of the World since 2021. As of August 2025, we are currently at approximately 18% canopy cover.
What is the urban heat island effect?
The urban heat island effect is a phenomenon where urban centres are hotter than rural areas as a result of heat absorbing surfaces such as concrete. Dark surfaces absorb heat and release it slowly, meaning areas which are very urbanised will absorb heat through the day and retain it even at night. In some cities, the heat island effect in densely populated areas can be up to 12◦C hotter than the much leafier countryside. Surfaces such as grassland and trees do not absorb the heat as much as trees and other vegetation cooling the air through the evaporation of water from the leaf surface. This makes our parks, amenity areas and trees incredibly important.
This is why initiatives such as the Greener Ipswich Project help to not only improve the look of the town but also help with reducing the urban heat island effect by adding vegetation to create shade and reduce the amount of heat absorbed by hard surfaces.
Miyawaki Woodlands
Over the last five years, Ipswich Borough Council’s Parks Department has been experimenting with tree planting in the Miyawaki method.
Named after Japanese botanist, Akira Miyawaki, who pioneered this method of growing dense urban forests on small patches of land. What makes Miyawaki forest unique is that they grow much more quickly compared to a conventional forest. Although the technique was developed based on rainforest structure, we have been developing the technique for the local woodland structure including an understory of scrub species amongst larger trees. The intention is that if any trees need to be removed to retain maximum woodland diversity and to allow for light and space to the understory, all cut material will be retained onsite within the woodland in the form of stag beetle pyramids/hibernacula, dead hedges and other features to retain any carbon stored within the woodland.
Miyawaki woodlands can be found in:
- Sherrington Road Recreation Ground
- Dumbarton Road Recreation Ground
- St Augustine’s Recreation Ground
- Whitehouse
- Chantry Green
- Bonny Crescent
- Castle Hill Recreation Ground
Paulownia Tomentosa Tree in Christchurch Park
In 2021, Ipswich Borough Council celebrated our first Ipswich Loves Trees Week, to commemorate this, we planted a Paulownia Tomentosa Tree, more commonly known as a “Foxglove Tree” in Christchurch Park. This tree was specifically selected as an experiment as these trees are said to absorb 10 times more Carbon Dioxide than any other tree. The trees rapid growth of the tree and ability to survive in warmer climates means these trees could be a great option for planting across the town. We are monitoring the tree to see how well it does in Christchurch Park and we will explore options for planting more if deemed suitable.
You can find the tree at the bottom of the fenced grass triangle between the Reg Driver Centre and Christchurch Mansion.
Going peat free
Since 2019, Ipswich Borough Council has stopped using peat in socials in all landscaping and horticultural, such as parks and Council properties. The Council works with suppliers that only select plants which are grown in peat free compost.
Our volunteer groups use locally sourced peat free compost when growing plants for our parks and we have almost completely eliminated peat products from our parks and landscape schemes. Plant donations and allotment holders are not however under this restriction.
Staff green travel plan
When we moved to our new headquarters, Grafton House, in 2007, we introduced a Green Travel Plan.
This led to the introduction of staff car parking charges, discounted public transport tickets and participation in Cyclescheme to encourage staff to travel to work using a more sustainable mode of transport.