What is climate change?

Climate change refers to the impact on the climate of too many 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 acts as the starting point for the development of an ongoing Climate Change Strategy for Ipswich Borough Council and focusses 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.

Our Green House Gas Emissions Update 2020/21 details our progress as of 31/03/2021.

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.