Taking action on climate change

Hampshire County Council declared a climate emergency in June 2019.

The  Hampshire 2050 Commission of Inquiry recognised our changing climate as the biggest long-term issue facing Hampshire. Action on climate change is being embedded across the County Council’s services, influencing the way decisions are made and policies are delivered in shaping a healthy and prosperous future in Hampshire.

Two targets have been set for the County Council, and these also apply to Hampshire as a whole:

• becoming carbon neutral by 2050
• preparing to be resilient to the impact of a 2°C rise in temperature

Find out more

Our climate change strategy provides a clear direction for climate action in Hampshire towards 2050. It shapes our work and our partnerships, ensuring we lead by example, creating a joint approach to taking real action.

Climate Change Strategy 2020 to 2025

Visit the Annual progress page to find out how we're doing and to read the latest Annual Progress Report.

Why we are acting

The impacts of climate change are already being experienced in Hampshire, such as:

• increased winter rainfall
• higher temperatures
• sea levels rising
• more extreme weather
• increased water scarcity
• natural habitat loss

Find out more about the effects of climate change from the Met Office.

As well as taking action to reduce emissions, we are also adapting to the impacts of climate change so our communities, infrastructure and environment can be better prepared.

Climate change does not just cause physical or financial damage, it can also have much deeper, longer-term effects on health and wellbeing. For these reasons, Hampshire County Council is not only focused on reducing emissions but also on building resilience.