Issue - meetings

Appendix C – Climate Change Strategy Engagement Report

The Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Environment introduced the report.

The report referred to the new Climate Change Strategy which built upon the previous strategy and progress to date and takes account of changes in national policy and context. It also set out how the Council plan to work towards its net zero vision for the city and net zero target for the Council by 2030; and to deliver the associated benefits of improved health, wellbeing, and livelihoods for current and future generations.

In response to questions from Cabinet Members and those Councillors present, the Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Environment said the following:

      i.         Welcomed the comment highlighting that the work that was being with community groups; collaborative work with community groups had significantly increased.

    ii.         The former single group, Cambridge Climate Leaders, had been divided into two groups, Cambridge Climate Leaders demonstrated clear action‑focused outcomes. The Cambridge Climate Forum, comprising community groups across the city worked on environmental issues which was an invaluable resource for the City Council. The intention was to strengthen this partnership further, to ensure it became a strategy for the whole city rather than solely for the City Council.

   iii.         Noted the following comments made by the Chair of the Services, Climate and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

·        The Member stated that the Committee fully recognised the importance of climate change There had been some concern about the deliverability of the strategy should major projects, such as the city centre heat network and the Civic Quarter scheme not proceed, given the scale and ambition of these initiatives.

·           The Committee also highlighted that the City Council’s own emissions represented only a small proportion of citywide emissions, and felt it was important to continue working collaboratively with other organisations and groups to encourage wider action on reducing carbon footprints.

·           The Committee expressed strong approval for the innovative work underway, including efforts to address water scarcity, and acknowledged the use of offsetting only as a last resort. Overall, the scrutiny committee had given its broad support to the strategy.

  iv.         Acknowledged that the deliverability of some projects carried risk due to their scale and ambition. This reflected the Council’s aspirations but also the fact that lower‑cost, easier measures had largely already been implemented. Further progress would therefore require addressing more complex and challenging actions.

Cabinet unanimously resolved to:

      i.         Note progress made in carbon reduction and the high international ranking of the Council and the City for work to address Climate Change

    ii.         Note the outcome of the public engagement and feedback of the Services, Climate and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

   iii.         Approve the new Climate Change Strategy (2026-2031).