Vision and Principles 9

Building our communities back after the global disruption of the coronavirus pandemic is a once in a lifetime opportunity to embed low carbon principles across our society. It is also about ensuring the economy is boosted through the development of new ‘green jobs’ in a range of industries.

We will ensure that sustainability and climate change are key considerations in all decisions relating to investment, production, development, transport, the economy, society, and the environment to facilitate a truly Green recovery.

Carbon reduction must also be central to the ‘Levelling Up’ agenda and other funding bids across the County that are central to the regeneration agenda.

If County Durham is to successfully tackle climate change, everyone will have to have an opportunity to have their say and be heard, no matter their circumstances, age, ability, race, beliefs, sex, or gender. Collaborating with communities, individuals, and partners to ensure that there is a consensus for this plan, will enable DCC to build the best carbon neutral county for our residents and communities.

Continued communication with individuals, communities, and partners is essential to the delivery of this Plan and for it to be transparent to enable scrutiny. We will work with Government to help deliver Local Area Energy Plans, ensuring that all communities have a viable and cost effective way to transition to net zero heat.

A new website has been developed, ClimateCountyDurham.org.uk, which was launched in County Durham on the opening day of COP 26 in Glasgow. It is designed to be a place where any member of the community can find ways to do their bit or have their say on what we’re doing as we work together towards a carbon neutral future.

County Durham’s natural environment has a vital role to play in tackling climate change. Where they are healthy, our ecosystems can take up and store a significant amount of carbon in soils, sediments, and vegetation. However, the destruction and degradation of our natural habitats results in the direct loss of carbon within them, threatens the survival of our unique wildlife, and makes it harder for people to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

On hearing evidence from the Environment and Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Committee, of habitat and species decline within the County, on 6th April 2022 Cabinet declared an Ecological Emergency. By protecting and restoring County Durham’s natural and semi-natural habitats and managing them for nature, we can aid nature recovery and store more carbon. This will also deliver co-benefits for climate change adaptation, improved soil health, water management, and for our own health and wellbeing.

Nature based solutions will therefore be implemented which address both the climate emergency and ecological emergency in an integrated way, whilst upholding key principles identified by Natural England3 .

3R Gregg, J. L. Elias, I Alonso, I.E. Crosher and P Muto and M.D. Morecroft (2021) Carbon storage and sequestration by habitat: a review of the evidence (second edition) Natural England Research Report (NERR094. Natural England, York)