Climate Change

The climate change work we've done so far includes:

• Developed a Climate Change Strategy and action plan to set out the actions we will take and when. 
  Climate Change – Ribble Valley Borough Council
• Reduced CO2e from Council operations by 9.2% in 2023/24.
  One Carbon World: Carbon footprint reports
• Our Local Air Quality Status annual report for 2024 fulfils the requirements of DEFRA’s Local Air Quality Management Process.
  Air Quality Annual Status Reports
• Planted over 20 redwood trees on council and private land across the borough as well as and two Miyawaki micro-forests with the help from Lancashire County Councils Treescapes team.
• Created the Climate Emergency Working Group. This is a cross party group of councillors working together to promote opportunities for how the Council is meeting the challenge of Climate Change.
• Encouraged use of the bulky waste scheme, which reduces fly-tipping. The council made 1,692 bulky waste collections in 2024/2025. 
  Apply for a bulky waste collection.
• We continue to offer free Green Bin collections on a fortnightly basis. 
  More about Green Bins.
• Our Grounds Maintenance team take environmental issues very seriously and they take the following measures restrict chemical use including herbicides and pesticides, avoid the use of peat and peat based products, they consider planting drought tolerant species and a mixture of tree species, as well as re-wilding / biodiversity restoration schemes.
• Carried out a feasibility study and pilot on the suitability of using Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) in council fleet vehicles.
• Started to create a green fleet of council vehicles by buying two fully electric vans to replace the pest control van and the dog warden diesel vans.
• Installed electric car charging spaces on seven council car parks for public use.
• In partnership with LCC through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding. Five pilot scheme locations were identified from across the borough for cross pavement cable trays, for residents who do not have off-street parking.
• Rewilding, biodiversity restoration completed at two sites – Clitheroe Castle and Edisford Bridge.
• Reduced paper waste and lowered emissions by introducing council tax online.
• Carried out a feasibility study on Ribblesdale Pool.
• Low energy LED lighting installed in the council offices at Church Walk.
• We use communications channels such as events, social media, leaflets and Ribble Valley News to encourage residents to recycle more, generate less waste and contaminate less.
• Carbon Literacy Training completed by Members and Environmental Awareness Training available for all council employees on our staff learning portal.
• Continue engagement and information sharing with our partners, businesses and our Parish Councils.
• Installed solar panels on the council offices in Clitheroe.