The Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report seeking endorsement of the Reading Climate Change Partnership’s draft ‘Reading Climate Emergency Strategy 2020-25’ for the purposes of public consultation. The draft Strategy was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

The report noted that the current Reading Climate Change Strategy, produced by the Reading Climate Change Partnership (RCCP) and covering the period 2013-20, had been due for review in 2020, but that the Climate Emergency Declaration had led to a commitment to accelerate the process by six months. The Council was an active partner in RCCP and officers had been supporting the Partnership in developing the draft Strategy, which was attached to the report at Appendix 1.  The Strategy set out a vision for 2025 of a Reading which was working rapidly towards net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and being resilient to the impacts of a changing climate.  It also summarised the role and resources of RCCP partners for delivering the Strategy and set out Action Plans under the themes of: Energy and Low Carbon Development, Transport, Resources, Water, Nature and Health.

To meet the accelerated timescale, and to ensure that residents and other stakeholders had the opportunity to comment on the strategy before it was finalised, it was proposed to issue the draft Strategy for consultation on 13 March for a six-week consultation period until 24 April, to be managed by the Council on behalf of RCCP.  It was envisaged that the final strategy would then be formally adopted by the Council (in parallel with other partners) in June 2020 and launched at a high-profile ‘Reading Climate Summit’ in July 2020.

Resolved –

(1)     That the Reading Climate Change Partnership’s Draft ‘Reading Climate Emergency Strategy 2020-25’ be endorsed for public consultation;

(2)     That the actions within the action plans for which the Council was identified as a delivery partner be noted and endorsed;

(3)     That the Council manage the consultation process on behalf of the Reading Climate Change Partnership and initiate a six week period of consultation from 13 March 2020 to 24 April 2020;

(4)     That the proposal to bring a final draft of the Strategy to the Committee’s meeting in June 2020 for formal adoption be noted.