Back in March, Bath & North East Somerset Council declared a ‘climate emergency’.

Whilst we may all be more aware about the growing environmental movement, what does it mean for a local authority to make this statement?

Responding to residents asking if this is just a label, B&NES Council has now released a timetable and information about its immediate plans to address the climate emergency as part of a larger response to a 2030 carbon neutral goal.

The council has added a section to its website, ‘Responding to the Climate Emergency’, to set out its approach for the coming months, setting out a timeline of the council’s actions up until now and for the coming months.

Since March, development of the first Climate Emergency report on action planning has begun, and will be presented to full Council in October. In July, the Leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, Dine Romero, led the initiative that resulted in the West of England Combined Authority declaring a climate emergency and carbon neutrality by 2030. She said: “Bath & North East Somerset Council is making good progress on the development of the first Climate Emergency report. We will soon have more detail on the area’s carbon footprint, and options on how to reach our 2030 carbon neutral goal.

“This report will include the proposals for a Climate Emergency, Environment and Place Partnership to provide the leadership and drive to make things happen quickly. It will also include proposals for engagement across the community – including citizens’ assemblies. This is when we will need people’s support and participation.

“Responding to the Climate Emergency requires action from national government, local government, and all aspects of society in order to achieve the big energy and transport system changes needed. Many residents and local businesses ask us what they can do, which is why we are also providing a list of relatively simple actions that can be taken. Whilst we should all do what we can, these individual actions on their own are not enough, and we will be seeking support from the community for the larger system changes that are needed.”

The Council’s suggested actions are:

• Avoid food waste; buy local and seasonal food when you can

• Avoid palm oil in ultra-processed food and some cleaning products and toiletries

• Buy less, make it last; eliminate single use plastics

• Get home energy advice via the Council’s Energy at Home helpline and see if you can make your home more energy efficient; switch to a green energy supplier

• Walk, cycle and use public transport as much as you can; use your car less and take fewer flights

• Talk to friends and neighbours and share ideas on what do to; engage with your local school, employer and become active in your community through a local community group, or through your Community Forum or Parish Council helping to work out what your local community could do.

Suggested actions for businesses or organisations include improving energy efficiency, implementing sustainable travel plans, asking suppliers how environmentally-friendly they are, and have recycling in place.