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Environment

Introduction

Our Vision for Gloucestershire is:

  • By 2045 we will create a net zero county that provides quality of life now and for future generations, having improved the quality of our natural environment.
  • By 2030 Gloucestershire County Council will have reduced our corporate carbon emissions by 80% on 2005. Countywide net zero targets cannot be achieved by any single organisation and will require extensive partnership working between councils, businesses and other organisations. Everyone who lives, works and visits the county has a significant role to play in reaching net zero. GCC is committed to lead by example.  

As a member of UK100—a network of over 100 UK councils committed to leading the rapid transition to net zero—GCC is part of a national movement driving meaningful change towards net zero. While GCC directly controls only 2-5% of local emissions, as a key influencer in the region, we have the potential to impact up to a third of the county’s emissions.

Gloucestershire County Council’s (GCC) Cabinet approved the current Climate Change Strategy and 5-year rolling Action Plan in December 2019 and committed to reporting annual progress.

Visit the Greener Gloucestershire dashboard here: Greener Gloucestershire dashboard | Gloucestershire County Council

Read the latest annual report here

Links to local evidence of need and local strategies

Access environmental data via Inform Gloucestershire: Environment | Inform Gloucestershire

Air quality monitoring dashboard | Inform Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire’s economic strategy outlines the need to tackle climate change and promote the circular economy: https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/d0glpm5n/gloucestershires-economic-strategy-2024-2034-strategy.pdf

Green economic growth is a key objective for Gloucestershire’s Economic Plans and local businesses and suppliers and key drivers of this change. We are working with the Growth Hubs to support businesses with this transition.

Carbon emissions

Our corporate targets are:

  • to reduce our carbon emissions (buildings, street lighting, fleet, business travel) by 80% by 2030 (from the 2006/07 baseline); and  
  • to aim for 100% (‘net zero’) by 2030 through both reduction and carbon offsetting. Best practice in carbon offsetting will be followed with reductions in emissions prioritised over offsetting or insetting.

A high proportion of Gloucestershire County Council’s own carbon emissions (around 70%) come from the goods and services we contract through others. Gloucestershire County Council has committed to reducing its own carbon emissions by 80% by 2030 and aim for 100% net zero through offsetting.

If your business is Gloucestershire based and you’d like support and advice on your own Net Zero journey, please contact The Growth Hub Gloucestershire who will introduce you to their sustainability experts and guides:

Email: talktous@thegrowthhub.biz 

Find out more: thegrowthhub.biz/net

The specific Social Value TOMs we want your help in achieving and how we will help you with this

Outcome 1: Restoring our climate and improving air quality through transport
Ref Measure Unit
NT32 Reduction in car miles from green transport programme miles saved
NT33 Miles driven using zero emissions vehicles miles driven
NT115 Restoring our climate and improving air quality throughtransport tonne-km

Air Quality

Gloucestershire has several hotspots of poor air quality where action to lower these pollution levels is needed.

As well as focusing on these hotspots, we must ensure areas of existing good air quality are maintained. Poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK with long-term exposure and longterm exposure can cause chronic conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as lung cancer and reduce life expectancy[1].

In particular, we would like to see:

  • Promotion of active travel and public transport use, both for staff when commuting and for business travel
  • Clean energy sources such as electric over biomass
  • Inclusion of air quality in business sustainability plan
  • Support employee home working, where possible 

[1] Health matters: air pollution - GOV.UK

Outcome 1: Restoring our climate and improving air quality through transport
Ref Measure Unit
NT32 Reduction in car miles from green transport programme miles saved
NT33 Miles driven using zero emissions vehicles miles driven
NT115 Restoring our climate and improving air quality throughtransport tonne-km

Air Quality

Gloucestershire has several hotspots of poor air quality where action to lower these pollution levels is needed.

As well as focusing on these hotspots, we must ensure areas of existing good air quality are maintained. Poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK with long-term exposure and longterm exposure can cause chronic conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as lung cancer and reduce life expectancy[1].

In particular, we would like to see:

  • Promotion of active travel and public transport use, both for staff when commuting and for business travel
  • Clean energy sources such as electric over biomass
  • Inclusion of air quality in business sustainability plan
  • Support employee home working, where possible 

[1] Health matters: air pollution - GOV.UK

Outcome 2: Protecting and restoring biodiversity and ecosystems
Ref Measure Unit
NT117 Support for environmental & biodiversity conservation £ invested inc. time, materials, equipment etc
NT86 Support for environmental conservation and ecosystem management no. staff volunteering hours
NT118 Support for sustainable reforestation or afforestation projects £ invested inc. materials equipment, etc.
NT119 Support for green spaces, biodiversity and ecosystems £ invested inc. materials equipment, etc.

How to link with GCC on this outcome and these measures

GCC is committed to planting one million trees by 2030 and to increasing tree canopy coverage across Gloucestershire. Suppliers might consider a commitment towards the costs of planting and or maintaining trees in Gloucestershire. Further information on Trees for Gloucestershire | Gloucestershire County Council is available on our website.

Outcome 2: Protecting and restoring biodiversity and ecosystems
Ref Measure Unit
NT117 Support for environmental & biodiversity conservation £ invested inc. time, materials, equipment etc
NT86 Support for environmental conservation and ecosystem management no. staff volunteering hours
NT118 Support for sustainable reforestation or afforestation projects £ invested inc. materials equipment, etc.
NT119 Support for green spaces, biodiversity and ecosystems £ invested inc. materials equipment, etc.

How to link with GCC on this outcome and these measures

GCC is committed to planting one million trees by 2030 and to increasing tree canopy coverage across Gloucestershire. Suppliers might consider a commitment towards the costs of planting and or maintaining trees in Gloucestershire. Further information on Trees for Gloucestershire | Gloucestershire County Council is available on our website.

Outcome 3: Transitioning to a regenerative economy
Ref Measure Unit
NT88 Reduce waste through reuse of products and materials tonnes
Outcome 3: Transitioning to a regenerative economy
Ref Measure Unit
NT88 Reduce waste through reuse of products and materials tonnes
Outcome 4: Pioneering approaches to safeguarding the planet
Ref Measure Unit
NT53 Initiatives to safeguard the environment £ invested inc. time, materials, equipment etc

This Measure covers support for a range of initiatives to address the climate emergency and safeguard the environment in response to local conditions, in collaboration with the local community, through pioneering programmes that are scalable. Recorded hours of staff time can only include time spent preparing and conducting the activities. Innovative approaches and interventions not covered by other measures can be recorded here.

Outcome 4: Pioneering approaches to safeguarding the planet
Ref Measure Unit
NT53 Initiatives to safeguard the environment £ invested inc. time, materials, equipment etc

This Measure covers support for a range of initiatives to address the climate emergency and safeguard the environment in response to local conditions, in collaboration with the local community, through pioneering programmes that are scalable. Recorded hours of staff time can only include time spent preparing and conducting the activities. Innovative approaches and interventions not covered by other measures can be recorded here.