Climate and Community Action Working Group (CCAWG)

Three projects

1 December 2023

Shape and collaborate on waste reduction & circular economy actions to keep resources in use for longer

The City Environment, South Downs & The Sea Committee agreed in September to: Start an information and behaviour change campaign to reduce the volume of waste produced across Brighton & Hove, increase the levels of recycling and reduce contamination of recycling bins.

Link to the full report

In the city’s Economic Strategy a commitment was made to the development of a circular economy strategy and action plan. The council has been progressing a programme to embed circular principles into council policy and projects and are closely collaborating with organisations, circular experts and businesses across the city to support this transition.

Circular projects align to other city priorities such as reducing waste & litter, supporting residents with the cost of living and living a more sustainable and low carbon lifestyle; and supporting the local economy by helping businesses to thrive.

What activities, themes and outcomes do communities want to see? Who do we need to engage with to take forward? The circular textiles sector; BPEC; Circular experts – Cat, Claire Potter; TechTakeBack; B&H Food Partnership etc.

Nature recovery – greening urban areas – connecting with the Biosphere

Three big areas of work are

• Leverage our UNESCO designated biosphere, The Living Coast, as a vehicle to promote nature, support sustainable human development and environmental awareness, knowledge, learning and engagement 
• Delivering the City Downland Estate Plan. Objectives include capturing carbon on the council’s rural estate; local routes to market for food; flourishing biodiversity. Link to summary
• Developing Local Nature Recovery Strategies to reverse decline in nature caused by climate change –Brighton & Hove will have the opportunity to shape strategies for the city.

Timeline – February onwards

Decarbonisation Pathways Study

The study will develop several scenarios for achieving the citywide goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The scenarios will include ‘Business as Usual’, ‘Maximum effort’ and other scenarios tailored to the unique qualities of Brighton & Hove’s geography and communities. From this targets and actions will be identified for the council and wider city, and a carbon neutral strategy and programme of action developed with organisations and communities across Brighton & Hove.

An engagement strategy is being developed now, for Spring 2024 onwards and input would be appreciated over the next few months.

Timeline - reporting Spring 2024

To consider for the future

Work with communities on how to adapt to climate change

To support community specific actions coming out of the city’s Climate Adaptation programme. For example, ways to adapt and support city resilience to severe weather events such as flooding and extreme heat and to reduce risk to residents, communities, businesses and infrastructure.

Timeline – March/April following committee decision in February

Progress information/support on energy

Seeking advice from housing teams leading on this – but potentially to support projects (if funding secured) for things like insulation, retrofit, converting to heat pumps, community solar, community energy schemes.

A Brighton & Hove city climate campaign

Needs strategy to develop first and that is dependent on the Decarbonisation Pathways study – but potential to join activities together and make climate action more publicly accessible and inspiring, with greater recognition of community action and where subject-focused campaigns can be incorporated.

For example, Doncaster’s Climate Action campaign included a borough-wide training event for professionals and asked communities to consider how they could participate. Link to campaign

The following are not ready to progress or could be added to one of the above

• Progress policies around single use plastics and sustainable/ethical advertising
• Group could help to inspire optimism, especially towards younger audiences e.g. 24 hour comics challenge from University of Sussex