Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) is calling on residents, businesses and other organisations to participate in a 'Climate Conversation' that will help shape the HDC's Environment and Climate Strategy.

The engagement activity, launched on Monday (February 28), will run until March 25 and is the first in a series of future engagement activities to be held to understand local people's views.

The findings from this initial climate conversation will help the council set the priorities for the new strategy.

Following a full council meeting in December, councillors adopted a net carbon zero target for 2040 and agreed on a set of environmental principles, which will provide the basis for HDC to renew its Environment and Climate Strategy.

The strategy is centred on achieving an environmentally-friendly recovery and future for the district.

Executive Leader of Huntingdonshire District Council Cllr Ryan Fuller, said: “We all want to
live in an environment that is green and clean, so we are urging our residents, businesses
and other organisations to have their say and help us shape the Environment and Climate
Strategy for the district.

“As the guardian of 1,534 hectares of green space, 42.8 hectares of woodlands and a
managed tree canopy of 400 hectares, we protect and manage our natural environment every
day. We have successfully planted pictorial wildflower meadows with an equivalent footprint
of five and a half Wembley stadiums, helping to double nature and increase biodiversity.

“Our commitment to the environment also goes beyond parks and open spaces. Our waste
services are in the top quartile in the country, with a very high recycling rate of 58% - which
has been achieved through education, communication and direct intervention when required.

“By developing this new strategy, we are laying the foundations for a stronger future for
everyone across the district as we have a duty to ensure we promote an environmentally
positive recovery in Huntingdonshire following the impacts of COVID-19.

“I am proud that HDC has an excellent and longstanding record of improving our environment
and reducing our impact – a record that speaks for itself and ably demonstrates our ‘actions
not words’ approach. However, rather than just present a finished document, it’s really
important that we develop our renewed Environment and Climate Strategy as a shared
endeavour through ongoing and meaningful engagement with the community."

People can participate in the Climate Conversation online, and HDC officers will also be visiting locations that could include libraries, leisure centres, parks and open spaces and town centres across the district to gather feedback.

To find out more, visit https://www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/environment.