This, combined with the previous two schemes, will contribute to a reduction of more than 59,000 tonnes of CO2 in the region (over the 25-year guaranteed lifetime of the systems installed), and, with more people seeking repairs for worn out or mechanically failing items through Hampshire’s Repair Cafés, over 50 tonnes of CO2 have been saved.
The results of climate change actions like these, along with the County Council’s own initiatives, have been highlighted in the Authority’s latest Climate Change Annual Progress Report, presented to the County Council’s Cabinet today (Tuesday 10 December).
Leader of the County Council, Councillor Nick Adams-King said: “It’s very encouraging to see the great progress that continues to be made to tackle climate change and build resilience to the impacts of temperature change. Everyone has a role to play in helping Hampshire as a whole to reach net zero and this annual report shows how so many residents are taking action, either individually or within community groups. I wish to thank everyone who has played their part in this to date and continues to do so.”
Councillor Zoe Huggins, the County Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Climate Change mitigation, added: “Nationally and internationally, the climate change policy landscape is changing rapidly, so a key part of our focus over the next 12 months will be around responding to those changes and making the most of opportunities for the benefit of Hampshire’s residents, our economy, and the environment.
“However, the fact remains that making a difference relies on all of us taking action, the work of the County Council alone is not enough, and it is why schemes like Solar Together and community initiatives such as The Greening Campaign – which tackles climate change at a community level where everyone is included, and everyone has a role to play – are critical.”
Another key area of the County Council’s climate change work, in collaboration with partners such as bus companies and Hampshire's district, borough and unitary councils, is reducing carbon emissions from transport through several ambitious programmes including:
- Helping to secure Government investment for 62 zero-emission (electric) buses operated by First Bus and serving bus passengers in Fareham, Gosport and Portsmouth, helping to improve air quality.
- Improvements to 17 major bus services by funding the extension of services, with some now running 24 hours a day, and on Friday and Saturday evenings – reducing the number of car journeys and lowering carbon emissions.
- Construction of nine local walking and cycling routes in locations across the county, to enable people to walk, cycle or scoot for their local journeys instead of travelling by car.
Other positive climate change action over the past year has included planting many more trees through the Hampshire Forest Partnership, bringing the total number of new carbon-absorbing trees planted in Hampshire to 41,000 since 2022.
To encourage and support younger residents to tackle climate change, the County Council has set up the Go Green challenge, spotlighting daily actions they can take, such as avoiding food waste or making a pledge to swap just one car journey for a greener alternative.
As part of finding ways to reduce carbon emissions across all County Council services, around 4,500 more people have been supported through Hampshire’s Technology Enabled Care Programme, avoiding the need to travel to, or access, wider health services, and instead have received support at home, which significantly reduces carbon emissions.
Earlier this year, the County Council’s initiative to transform Bridgemary Library in Gosport into Hampshire’s first ‘Green Library’ also led to a 70% reduction in energy usage through the installation of renewable energy sources – rooftop solar panels and an air source heat pump system.