Climate Change Strategy 2025–2030

Foreword

In 2019, Maidstone Borough Council took a decisive step and declared its recognition of a global Biodiversity and Climate Change Emergency. This was followed by the adoption of our first Biodiversity and Climate Change Strategy in 2020. A cross-party group of Councillors developed the accompanying Action Plan, setting a clear ambition for the Council to lead by example. We aimed to transform our own practices – how we operate, communicate, adapt and procure – and celebrated the many early successes achieved.

Since then, the world around us has continued to evolve, and the urgency of the climate crisis has only intensified. We are witnessing increasingly frequent and severe climatic events, accelerating biodiversity decline and nature loss. Rising temperatures, extreme weather, and threats to property, health, wildlife habitats and food production are becoming a stark reality.

This refreshed Climate Change Strategy, now working in close partnership with our Biodiversity Strategy, builds upon our previous work and addresses these escalating challenges. We have sharpened our focus on two core priorities: Decarbonisation, and Local Sustainability. The Council will continue to demonstrate leadership on climate change, firstly by reducing our own emissions, where we have the most direct control and impact. Secondly, we will actively seek to influence and support the wider community in reducing their emissions and overall carbon footprint.

Crucially, this strategy acknowledges the inherent inequities of climate change, recognising that those on the lowest incomes often face the most severe consequences. We are committed to addressing these disparities and ensuring a just transition to a sustainable future. We must also adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change, preparing our borough for increased flooding, more frequent heatwaves and other challenges.

Our commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions for the Council by 2030 remains steadfast. We recognise the scale of this ambition and the potential challenges involved, especially given the progress to date. While the target may be aspirational, it reflects the urgency of the situation and our determination to drive innovation and enact significant change. This bold commitment is essential to secure a greener, healthier, and more resilient future for Maidstone and its residents.

This strategy sets out our ambitions and how we intend to achieve them. Meeting these goals demands both decisive action from us and a shared commitment from our community. We will take the lead, focusing on delivering tangible results and ensuring accountability. We will also work with residents, local businesses, our Voluntary and Community Sector, and stakeholders to build a stronger and more sustainable Maidstone for future generations.

Councillor Michael Summersgill (CENg, C.WEM)
Cabinet Member for Climate Transition & Nature Recovery

Key Achievements

• 15 Parish decarbonisation projects funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund
• 29 new solar installations through Solar Together
• 9 retrofit solar battery installations through Solar Together
• 1,200+ Ecohub visitors
• Carbon literacy training for all council leaders
• Climate Change newsletter subscribers increased by 1.5%
• 2 ‘Sustainability in Leadership’ Business Events delivered in 2024

Strategy Aims

• Driving our goal of a Borough-wide carbon reduction of 13.4% every year
• Delivering on Climate Change Survey 2023 top priorities and actions

Key Priorities

• Decarbonisation
• Local Sustainability

Ways of Working

As a local community leader on climate change Maidstone Borough Council recognises that it has responsibility to take direct action where it can and to proactively influence in those areas outside its control. We will:

• Be an exemplar, setting our own high standards and be a model of good practice for the Borough.
• Act as an enabler, in partnership working, sharing responsibility, facilitating, coordinating, and promoting projects.
• Encourage others, providing information, support and introductions that will make a positive contribution to our.
• response to the biodiversity and climate emergency.

Over 80% of emissions within the Borough come from domestic energy consumption and transportation, sectors where the Council has limited direct control. However, addressing these significant emission sources is crucial for meaningful progress on climate change. Therefore, Maidstone Borough Council is committed to implementing a proactive approach, focusing on the following areas where it can make a real difference:

• Finance: using existing financial resources to identify investment opportunities that support climate change projects and initiatives.
• Partnerships: actively seeking partnerships whereby Maidstone Borough Council can generate and improve influence on climate change projects and initiatives.
• LobbyingProactively: lobbying for policy changes in areas where Maidstone Borough Council lacks direct control.
• Circularity: where feasible, Maidstone Borough Council will adopt a ‘repair over replace’ approach to climate change initiatives.

Our Vision and Objectives

The Climate Change Strategy supports the following Council strategic priorities:

• Priority one: A high quality place, adapted for a changing climate
• Priority four: fairer economy for people and planet

National Context

Emissions & Net Zero

The rate of climate change is directly correlated to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, making the commitment to net zero an increasingly important national milestone. By 2050, the UK must reach net zero to ensure we are no longer contributing to the climate crisis. The UK is now only 6 years away from our 2030 nationally determined contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement. This will be the first internationally agreed target we need to achieve in line with our commitment to net zero. Currently, we are only projected to reach a third of this target, so actions must accelerate to ensure net zero is achieved[1].

The top contributors to GHG emissions in the UK are domestic transport (28%); buildings (20%); Industry (14%); electricity supply (14%); agriculture (12%); fuel supply (7.5%) and waste (4.5%)[2].

The majority of success in emissions reductions to date has been attributed to the switch to renewable energy supply, and the shift away from new fossil fuel. To achieve net zero, ¾ of reductions going forward must occur outside of energy supply[1]. The UK now requires a greater focus on transport, buildings, agriculture, land management, and engineered removal.

Climate Change Indicators

Parallel to biodiversity loss, the direct impacts of climate change include 0.42°C warmer average temperatures this past decade (2014-2023) compared to the decade prior, and 1.25°C average warmer temperatures when compared to 1961-1990[4]. The UK has experienced eight of the ten warmest years on record since 1990[6]. Our Winters in the most recent decade have been 9% wetter on average than the preceding decade, and 24% wetter on average when compared to 1961-1990[4]. Sea levels have risen by 10cm across the UK since 1990 and continue to do so[5]. Two of our driest years were reported in 2018 & 2022, warning of further drought, and successive droughts, in years to come[7].

Climate change, the continued deterioration of UK habitats, and the decrease in priority species have contributed to long-term decline in almost 60% of the UK’s national biodiversity indicators[3]. Weather events, loss and agricultural practices further exacerbate strains on biodiversity felt by seasonal shifts and are now key focus areas in climate change mitigation for the protection of all species.

Recovery and Resilience – National Commitments & Actions

The government has committed to protect 30% of UK land by 2030 through biodiversity net gain (BNG). Biodiversity also has an important role in climate change adaptation and mitigation through nature-based solutions (NBS). These solutions help to build more resilient ecosystems and can aid in sequestering carbon (e.g. a focus on improving soil quality).

1. The Climate Change Committee progress report to parliament
2. 2022 UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Final Figures
3. Biodiversity and Nature Recovery Annex
4. Met Office report
5. Biodiversity and Climate Change – a summary of impacts in the UK
6. Met Office - state of the UK climate 2018
7. Drought provides warning for future years

Local Context

Maidstone is facing the growing realities of climate change, experiencing local impacts that mirror broader national and global trends. Analysis of the most recent local climate change projections for Kent expect summer temperatures to increase by 2-3°C by 2040 and winter temperatures to increase by 1-2°C. Drier summers are expected with a reduction in average precipitation of 20-30% by 2040, while wetter winters are expected to see an increase in average precipitation of 10-20%1.

Kent County Council has identified the key issues it, alongside partners including Maidstone Borough Council, must address if the county’s environmental condition is not to see considerable deterioration: securing a clean, green economic recovery; reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero; tackling hot spots of poor air quality; protecting the vulnerable; enabling integrated and connected transport, travel and digital connectivity; ensuring energy supplies are low carbon, secure, affordable and local where possible; and overcoming energy grid constraints2.

In 2019, Maidstone Borough Council declared a Climate Change Emergency and pledged to achieve as close to net zero as possible by 2030. Carbon neutrality can be achieved through reducing existing emissions and actively removing greenhouse gases. We have committed to achieving net zero for our own operations by 2030 and our long-term aspiration is to become carbon negative or a footprint less than neutral so that we have a net effect of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. At a Borough-wide scale, in accordance with national government targets and based on Tyndall Centre data, we have set out carbon reduction milestones to reduce CO2 emissions by –13.4% each year to reach near net zero by 2041.

Maidstone Borough Council’s emissions from sources that are controlled directly (Scope 1) and emissions caused indirectly when the energy is purchased (Scope 2) are currently measured and reported on via an online ‘carbon dashboard’. These measures reflect a reduction in the Council’s carbon footprint over the past 3 years, decreasing by an average of 1.7% per year. The Council’s Scope 3 emissions (other indirect emissions from goods, services and contracts bought by the Council and not otherwise classed as Scope 2) are estimated to make up over 90% of its total emissions. These emissions remain largely unmeasured; data regarding Scope 3 emissions largely lies with third-party organisations and businesses and so are more difficult to account for. The Council is currently developing methodologies to measure and support our contractors towards our 2030 net zero commitment. While regional priorities highlight the scale of the challenge, we are committed to ambitious action, aiming for near net-zero emissions for our operations by 2030 and Borough-wide by 2041. This strategy supports the delivery of this goal.

To achieve our net zero commitments, the Council has an annual carbon reduction target of 13.4%. In our most recent residents survey, top priorities of respondents were: biodiversity loss due to habitat destruction; pollution; climate change; travel & transport; waste; homes; building & infrastructure. Key actions residents appealed for were the reduction of emissions from our buildings and the ways we work; the planting of more trees; the creation of other habitats for wildlife; and investment in active travel infrastructure.

1. Kent Wildlife Trust - species extinction
2. Maidstone’s Biodiversity Strategy
3. Flood risk to communities in Maidstone
4. Environment data - water body
5. Kent Downs management plan

Key Priority - Decarbonisation

Supporting Decarbonisation Within the Borough, Our Buildings, & Ways of Working

Why is this important?

Reducing the Council's emissions, and supporting a significant reduction in Borough-wide Greenhouse Gas emissions is essential to deliver on net zero commitments and the Council’s strategic priority: A High Quality Place, Adapted for Climate Change.

‘Decarbonisation’ aims to deliver on the 2023 residents survey top-scoring action, to “reduce emissions from our buildings and the ways we work” and top-scoring priorities “Homes; and Building & Infrastructure; and Travel & Transport”.

Areas of Focus

• Decarbonise Maidstone Borough Council
• Support the decarbonisation of Maidstone Borough
• The transition to clean energy generation & consumption
• Improve air quality
• The transition to electrification

Decarbonising the Council

The Council began its annual reporting on emissions in the ‘Our Carbon Footprint’ dashboard in 2021, and to date, the footprint calculation has been limited to Scopes 1 and 2 emissions, with only a small proportion of Scope 3 emissions being included in this calculation. Since the first comparative reporting period in 2021-2022, the largest emitters in Council operations have been buildings, energy and transport. The incorporation of a more accurate Scope 3 emissions baseline from which to build new reduction targets is a priority in driving meaningful, significant decarbonisation of Council operations and ways of working.

Decarbonising the Borough

The Council have made a commitment in line with national emissions reduction targets to achieve as close to net zero as possible in the Borough by 2041. Historic emissions estimates from 2007 onwards reflect a small reduction in emissions each year across the Borough. The largest contributors are transport (consistently accounting for roughly half of all emissions); domestic gas and electricity (accounting for roughly a quarter of emissions in the Borough); and agriculture and commercial electricity & gas (roughly another quarter of emissions).

The Transition to Clean Energy

In 2022 the Council partnered with Kent County Council to deliver the ‘Solar Together’ project, a group buying scheme encouraging residents to transition to solar panels and battery storage for their household energy needs. Since then, more than 2,000 panels over 175 locations have been installed under this scheme. To meet our near net zero target for the Borough by 2041, solar installations must continue to increase, so this project will continue to be a focus for the Council. In addition, the Council aims to incorporate other renewable energy sources to both the Borough and the Council’s own operations and ways of working. Collective buying schemes, grants, community investment are all priorities in our transition to cleaner, more renewable energy.

Improving Air Quality

With an average 32,000 deaths each year attributed to air pollution in the UK, the focus on air quality is urgent[1]. Collaboration is key, and the success of community involvement in this partnership relies heavily upon the education of residents on the causes, impacts, and positive behavioural changes central to reducing emissions and improving air quality. Certain groups are at greater risk than others when it comes to the negative impacts of poor air quality: children; the elderly; and those with pre-existing respiratory illness[2]. In the most recent residents survey, a key area of concern for respondents was pollution, and a key area where respondents would like to see improved action is in tree planting.

The Transition to Electrification

The transition to an electrified economy requires a focus on promoting clean, renewable energy generation and consumption, and investment into electricity infrastructure. Across the UK, solar installations need to increase at a rate of 5x the current installations to achieve our net zero target. Around 1% of homes are heated by a heat pump, and this number needs to increase to 10% to be on target for our net zero commitment. Similarly, the electric vehicle market, which currently equates to about 17% of car ownership, needs to increase to as close to 100% as possible[3]. Educating, supporting, strategic partnerships, collective buying and removing barriers to entry for residents form key aspects of achieving significant progress in this space.

What We Have Already

In 2024 the Council successfully achieved £3.1m of grant funding to retrofit its two main office buildings, Maidstone House and The Link[4]. Owing to the time pressures imposed by the grant process, only one building contractor was able to accommodate the project bid and resource required for the project within the required timeframe.  
The target of decarbonising our buildings is still very much a priority for the Council. Learnings from the recent grant process have been incorporated into this updated version of the strategy and action plan to ensure we can adapt and move forward in this key area of focus. Similarly, our focus on decarbonising our energy consumption and transportation footprints will be addressed in this strategy update.

From our most recent climate change survey, it was clear that respondents wanted to see greater action from the Council in the decarbonisation of buildings and the ways that we work – both within the Council itself and across the Borough.  
The Table below illustrates the key commitments and action areas for Key Priority ‘Decarbonisation’.

Key Priority – Local Sustainability

Supporting, Cultivating and Promoting Circularity  - Why is this important?

Becoming more sustainable in our behaviours and practices within the Council and the Borough and considering the full lifecycle of our actions including the generation and management of waste; education for the future; and the application of nature-based solutions; are essential in delivering on the Council’s strategic priority: A Fairer Economy for People and Planet.

‘Local Sustainability’ aims to deliver on the 2023 residents survey top-scoring actions to “plant trees; and create other habitats for wildlife” and top-scoring priorities “pollution; and waste”.

Areas of Focus

• Waste reduction
• Skills Development
• Resource Planning, Management & Sustainability
• Engagement and Communications

Reducing Waste and Improving Management

The Council recognises that a full-spectrum approach to waste is important for ensuring behaviour change occurs across all levels. This includes rethinking, refusing, reducing, reusing, repairing, and recycling in relation to waste, and will be of particular focus in this strategy.

Developing Skills for the Future

Skills development enables capacity building and promotes employment opportunities in the longer term, whilst also delivering on the Biodiversity and Climate Change agenda. Partnering with sustainable skills providers to minimize barriers to entry and promoting participation within communities most at-risk from climate impacts provides a focused approach to the sustainable skills transition.

Planning For and Supporting Sustainability

Within the Borough, there are a number of successful initiatives run by organisations focused on sustainable practices, and promotion. Planning for a more circular and sustainable future supports the connection of such efforts into a more cohesive  focused and collaborative approach.

What We Have Already Done

Each year, we run a successful Ecohub event connecting residents to sustainable communities and networks, and provide engagement and education sessions on various aspects of sustainability. Within the Council, recycling processes and procedures have been updated. The community larder scheme successfully operates in three areas across Maidstone, supporting residents struggling with the rising costs of living.

From our most recent climate change survey, key priorities of respondents included addressing pollution and waste. Respondents also wanted to see greater action from the Council in tree planting & creating other habitats for wildlife to support these priorities.

The table below illustrates the key commitments and action areas for Key Priority ‘Local Sustainability’:

Appendix 1

Resident’s Priorities (Responses from 2023 Climate Change Survey)

Strategy map

The Corporate Strategy connects to several key strategies and plans:

• Major Emergency Plan
• Communication and Engagement Strategy
• Parks and Open Spaces 10 Year Plan
• Housing Strategy
  • Environmental Health, Waste Crime and Community Protection Enforcement Policy
  • Housing Standards Enforcement Policy
  • Homes Energy Efficiency Plan
  • Low Emissions Strategy
  • Air Quality Action Plan
• Biodiversity Strategy
  • Biodiversity Delivery Plan
• Climate Change Strategy
  • Affordable Energy Strategy
• Local Plan
  • Integrated Transport Strategy
  • Walking and Cycling Strategy
  • Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan
• Heritage Strategy
  • Landscape Charter Assessment
  • Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule
  • Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan
  • Tree Strategy
• Medium Term Financial Strategy
  • Treasury Management Strategy
  • Capital Strategy
• Economic Development Strategy
  • Town Centre Strategy
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy & Action Plan