Wealden's Climate Change Strategy

The Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan were adopted at Full Council on 16 July 2025. It draws on the latest global thinking in responding to the climate emergency and builds on the foundations laid out in the Climate Green Paper (published in December 2024).

The strategy and action plan were informed by in-depth research conducted by world leading consultants, Arup and extensive community engagement with residents and stakeholders.

We are committed to leading the way in sustainable practices and policies. The Strategy and Action Plan outline our vision for a greener, more resilient community that focuses on caring for the environment, ensuring fairness for all, and supporting a strong economy, alongside our comprehensive approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change within the Council’s own operations and across the wider district.

We are committed to working together with the community to create a district where people and nature thrive. Your contributions are vital and we thank you for your participation in helping to create a greener, fairer, and more sustainable Wealden.

We’d love to hear how you’re making a difference, whether it’s a small change at home, a community project, or an idea that could inspire others. By sharing your actions and suggestions, you help build momentum and strengthen our collective impact. If you have any questions, or if you’d like to share your ideas or stories, please contact us at sustainability@wealden.gov.uk. Let’s keep working together to make Wealden a place where people and nature can flourish.

Research Reports and Consultation Findings

The results of all of our engagement activities and research reports were vital in shaping our strategy and action plan and are available to view on this page. The results reports, summaries and Arup reports are all available to view on this page.

• Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan Summary of the consultation findings.

Arup are a consultancy firm who were hired by the Council to identify Climate Change risk resilience and adaptation. They created three reports which examine how Climate Change is likely to impact Wealden suggest ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and explore options for renewable energy.

The research produced by Arup serves as a shared evidence base to inform both the Council’s Climate Change Strategy and the Local Plan.

Project 1. Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption Study. This report looks at the types of climate-related risks (like floods heatwaves and droughts) that could affect Wealden. It assesses which areas infrastructures and communities are most vulnerable helping the Council prepare and adapt to these risks.

Project 2. Clean Energy Opportunities and Implications Study. It identifies potential renewable energy sources that Wealden could use like solar and wind power. It shows where renewable projects might be most effective in the district providing options to generate clean energy locally and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Project 3. Accelerating the Road to Net Zero. It models different scenarios to show how Wealden can reduce emissions to meet net zero (where greenhouse gases produced are balanced by those removed from the atmosphere). It provides pathways or action plans the Council could follow to achieve this goal through energy-saving measures transportation changes and more renewable energy use. .

These reports provide a robust evidence base and modelling projections that have informed our strategic goals and actions across several key areas.

Themes

The following themes provide the strategic framework through which the Climate Action Plan will bring the strategy’s vision to life.