8 - Collective action

Councillor Max Wilkinson on a rooftop in cheltenham

Cheltenham Borough Council knows it cannot achieve the 2030 target alone. By working in partnership with organisations and residents across the borough, we can have greater power to bring about the necessary changes and action needed to achieve our collective global goal.

Delivery update and future areas of focus

Cheltenham Zero

  • The Cheltenham Zero initiative is our main vehicle for addressing borough-wide business and community group emissions. It now has 164 members and over 60 active carbon reduction plans included on the zellar platform designed to support businesses in calculating emissions and putting in place plans to reduce these. Further practical energy efficiency and emission reduction support is available via the Growth Hub
  • We have made £100k available to support emission reduction across community groups since 2021, supporting a range of projects to decarbonise
  • Looking ahead: During 2024, we are focusing on delivering £100,000 of grant funding alongside practical support and tools to help business across the borough to reduce their emissions via the Cheltenham Zero initiative, working with Vision 21. We are using this programme of support to inform our strategy to deliver improve energy efficiency and drive down carbon emissions to meet our 2030 target

Climate Champions

  • Working with Planet Cheltenham, our local zero carbon hub, we provided funding and support for the Climate Change Makers. The aim of this scheme is to empower and enable people to act in their communities, and it brought together 11 residents from across the town on a peer-led learning journey around climate change and local solutions 
  • Looking ahead: We will work within our communities to support decarbonisation, particularly focused around driving down emissions associated with domestic heat and energy use to maximise the impact on borough wide emissions

Communication and toolkits

  • Alongside the practical support we provide for businesses via the Cheltenham Zero initiative, we have made toolkits available on our website for community groups, individuals and families. The toolkits give information on the actions people can take at a personal level to drive down energy bills, reduce waste, foster nature recovery and support emission reduction

Wider engagement and education

  • Working with partners like Planet Cheltenham, we provide outreach into schools and community groups to build understanding and insight around climate change and sustainability
  • Looking ahead: As a festival town, we will use our events strategy to ensure events in our borough are more sustainable

Ongoing and completed actions

Priority in 2021-23

  • Drive the wider adoption of the Cheltenham Zero Partnership across businesses, communities and residents, influencing behaviour change, collaboration and the sharing information and best practice
  • Establish ‘Climate Champions’ among our communities, schools and businesses – building capacity for local people to be involved in
  • helping meet our climate targets, inspiring communities and enterprises to find and implement solutions. Climate Champions will also be established within CBC and our key partner organisations to drive change from within
  • Through mechanisms such as the CheltenhamZero Partnership, provide support to small and medium-sized enterprises, working closely with partners such as GFirst LEP, to access funds and expertise, so that they are able to contribute to carbon reduction and nature restoration plans
  • Explore partnership opportunities for setting up ‘zero carbon hubs’ – decentralised futureproof centres promoting zero emission lifestyles, that help to educate, inform and advise on ‘all things climate’ for individuals and communities. We continue to support the Planet Cheltenham26 initiative in their fight against climate change and social inequality
  • Regularly update the council’s web content27 to ensure the most relevant and up to date information is available to the public
  • Create or signpost to toolkits available for businesses, community groups, individuals and families, relating to topics such as energy, transport, waste reduction and children’s climate education activities
  • Work closely with the University of Gloucestershire to help support local climate-based research, which not only helps to identify opportunities for the Council and the Borough, but also develops the skills needed for our future workforce, enhancing student experience and employability

Priority in 2024-26

  • Use our influence with others, such as schools and other private businesses and organisations, to help ensure their buildings are zero-carbon, their purchasing is green and they support nature wherever possible
  • Work with businesses to introduce local incentive schemes that may help influence visitor and resident behaviour change towards more sustainable lifestyles, such as walking and cycling, reduced waste and healthier eating