AS part of its climate and sustainability programme Mid Devon District Council has launched a climate and sustainability website, designed to be a hub for community projects, events, information and resources.

The website has been set up to support communities to reduce their own carbon footprint and offers a platform where MDDC, as a council, can listen to and learn from residents, many of whom have been working on these issues for a long time.

The district council says it is keen to make this a comprehensive resource for its communities to use and share and would love it if people got involved:

• Sign up to be a part of future climate conversations;

• Let the council know details of local groups or businesses it can add to its interactive map of where to find sustainable resources;

• Submit your ideas for ways the council can achieve net zero carbon via its feedback form.

The council says that tackling climate change will never be achieved without working together and while some projects need to be on a large scale to make an impact there are steps we can all take to help at a more local level.

Access the new Mid Devon Climate and Sustainability website at: https://sustainablemiddevon.org.uk/ .

NET ZERO CARBON AIM

Mid Devon District Council is aiming for net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and is seeking to address the challenge through its own services and by working with the wider district.

Climate Priorities for 2020-24 were set out within its Climate Strategy and Handbook, which was approved in October 2020.

It aims to:

• Identify schemes that will put it on track for net zero carbon by 2030;

• Get its Hydro-electric scheme running in Tiverton;

• Create a Community Climate and Biodiversity Support Fund;

• Identify cycling and walking priorities and opportunities;

• Review and update council procurement strategies.

As a large partner in the area, the district council can make a positive impact through the quality of housing, energy supply, planning decisions, choice of transport, tree planting, and education and more – it also has the ability to influence wider decision making.

Councillor Colin Slade, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change said: “Transforming the way we all live our lives is vital if Mid Devon is to address the climate and nature emergencies it faces.

“Our recently launched Climate and Sustainability website highlights the current impacts of climate change to stimulate support for rapid decarbonisation.

“It provides an opportunity to identify what everyone can work on to mitigate and adapt to climate change, share good practice and inspire each other.

“There are many areas where we can lead by example to reduce our emissions and take positive action to tackle the climate and nature emergencies.”