Lewes district climate change and sustainability
Through our Climate Emergency Declaration we are committed to progressing towards our 2030 carbon reduction targets, and to improving our environment in partnership with our communities.
The Climate and Nature Strategy 2024 is a refresh of the Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy 2021 developed after the declaration of a climate emergency in 2019 which committed the council to be net zero by 2030.
The refreshed strategy contains the key objectives, targets and milestones that the council, its partners and the community will strive to achieve along the journey to become a low carbon district. We aim to become a district that plans for the impacts of climate change, and benefits from restored natural habitats and green spaces. The council will seek to provide leadership and acts as an enabler to support neighbourhood, district and regional climate and nature action.
Latest news
Read the latest news about climate and sustainability developments.
Read more (Go to Latest news)Climate and Nature Strategy and Action Plan
Read about our partners, and download the strategy, pathway, roadmap and other documents relating to our climate change and sustainability strategy.
Read more (Go to Climate and Nature Strategy and Action Plan)Sustainable council
Providing visible leadership, addressing the risks posed by climate change to our services, improving our decision-making processes, better determining our scope 3 emissions and seeking to reduce them through a sustainable procurement policy.
Read more (Go to Sustainable council)Energy and the built environment
Reducing emissions from buildings and construction - Including more renewable energy production in the district, reducing emissions from council assets, and increased access to help, advice, funding, and practical sustainability measures for all residents.
Read more (Go to Energy and the built environment)Sustainable travel and air quality
Increased access to sustainable travel options and electric charging infrastructure. Ensuring the council's fleet has zero emission and air pollution across the district is reduced so that public health is improved.
Read more (Go to Sustainable travel and air quality)Biodiversity
We are working to protect, restore, and increase a resilient nature network across the district. We aim to positively impact biodiversity (20% biodiversity net gain) in the planning process, and retain and extend the UNESCO biosphere status of the Brighton and Lewes Living Coast.
Read more (Go to Biodiversity)Sustainable food systems
Working in partnership with others to increase sustainable food production, develop equitable food systems across the district, enable greater local food reliance, and prevent food waste.
Read more (Go to Sustainable food systems)Waste and litter
We want to reduced waste and litter to improve our public realm, increase recycling rates and support of reduce, reuse and repair projects.
Read more (Go to Waste and litter)Water, rivers and seas
We work in partnership with others to mitigate against the risk of coastal erosion and support communities to be resilient to flooding. We want to preserve and improve the water quality of our rivers and seas.
Read more (Go to Water, rivers and seas)Community wealth and wellbeing
Ensuring there is a fair and equal transition to zero carbon for all. We work with partners to facilitate and enable green skills development and support local social enterprises.
Read more (Go to Community wealth and wellbeing)Right Here, Right Now COP26 films
On Friday 12 November 2021 we held a film screening as part of the Depot Cinema's two week Climate Action Festival. Read the film listings and links.
Read more (Go to Right Here, Right Now COP26 films)