Environment Strategy 2020 to 2030

Protecting and preserving our environment as we work towards net zero. 

Our refreshed Environment Strategy [84KB]  outlines the steps we intend to take with our partners to reach our target of net zero carbon for the council and to play our part in working towards net zero for the district as soon as practicable.

This refreshed strategy was approved by the Executive on 22 May 2025.  It follows on from the original strategy document, first approved in 2020, and provides greater focus and clarity on the council's pathway to net zero.

Climate change is a serious threat, and we must act now if we are to respond to the danger this poses to our people, our wildlife and our environment. This ambitious Environment Strategy highlights the fact that we, our partners and local communities all have a part to play in responding to this challenge.

The actions cover the following themes:

• energy efficiency and renewables
• sustainable transport
• the natural environment
• waste reduction and recycling

What actions are we taking?

Whilst some projects have been achieved in the first 5 years of the strategy period, and others are underway, there is a lot to do. We have developed a revised delivery plan to support the refreshed strategy. It includes actions, responsibilities, timescales and estimated carbon savings.

Progress is monitored through the council's internal governance and reported annually to the Executive. This is supported by our Environment Delivery Team.

Environment Strategy Annual Progress Reports

Each year in November we publish our Environment Strategy Annual Progress Report. Each report includes:

• a summary of actions and achievements for the year (July to July)
• an update on West Berkshire Council's carbon footprint
• an update on carbon emissions across the district of West Berkshire

You can find our published annual progress reports below:

• Environment Strategy Annual Progress Report (July 2023 to July 2024) [3MB] - this was reported to the Executive on 22nd May 2025
• July 2022 to July 2023: Environment Strategy Annual Progress Report [4MB]  - this was reported to the Executive on 2nd November 2023
• July 2021 to July 2022: Environment Strategy Annual Progress Report [2MB]  - this was reported to the Executive on 3 November 2022
• July 2020 to July 2021: Environment Strategy Annual Progress Report [1MB]  - this was reported to the Executive on 18 November 2021

We are keen to be a council that is open to learning, acknowledges best practice and updates approaches and methodologies to ensure we are reporting in the most suitable way. Any developments or new guidance in relation to reporting on carbon emissions will be considered. Changes will be made to the way in which the council calculates and reports on its carbon emissions where necessary and relevant.

Background

The development of an Environment Strategy was accelerated as a result of the unanimous declaration of a Climate Emergency by Full Council on 2 July 2019.

The strategy, which was subject to public consultation early in 2020, outlines the steps we and our partners intend to take in order to reach the district's target of net zero carbon.

The strategy was approved at the Executive Committee meeting on 16 July 2020. 

Following the elections in May 2023, the Liberal Democrat Administration have published the Council Strategy 2023 - 2027. This strategy supports action to tackle the climate emergency and also the ecological emergency which the council declared on 5th October 2023.