Creating a greener, cleaner Surrey

Surrey Environment Partnership Review April 2019 – March 2020

Activity and achievements

Climate change

Climate change was not part of SEP’s original programme for 2019-20 but it became an issue of increasing concern and discussion for partners.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a report in October 2018 warning against an increase in temperature of over 1.5oC. Then in May 2019 the Government declared a climate change emergency, aiming to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Many SEP partners followed suit and also declared climate emergencies.

As a result, in July 2019 members agreed to the development of a workstream to collaboratively address climate change.

In May 2019 the Government declared a climate change emergency, aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2020.

Progress to date

A policy baselining exercise was undertaken to determine the current work being carried out in each authority and their future priorities and targets.

A SEP workshop was held in November 2019 to support a collective understanding of the international and national climate change agenda and to consider what we need to do to achieve net zero carbon. The workshop successfully identified a series of actions that Surrey authorities need to work together on in the short term and a series of longer term priorities.

Following the workshop, SEP brought together experts from across the county to share knowledge and exchange ideas through a series of meetings and working groups. This supported the development of a shared strategic framework for addressing climate change, which is currently being considered by Surrey authorities.