Have your say and help shape ambitious plans to make Leicestershire a net zero carbon county by 2045

Residents, businesses, councils, and others in Harborough are being urged to help shape ambitious plans to make Leicestershire a net zero carbon county by 2045.

You can help Leicestershire County Council do that by getting involved in a major new in-depth consultation.

The county council is inviting people to comment on how changing the way they travel, how they run and maintain their homes, and how what they buy from day-to-day can help to protect the environment.

Running over three months, the new study focuses on a net zero action plan which sets out key goals.

They include:

- Slashing carbon emissions generated by transport

- Cutting energy use in buildings – plus improving energy efficiency and adding new renewable energy generation

- Supporting businesses to go green and grow the low carbon economy

- Getting behind communities to tackle climate change

- Increasing the removal and storage of carbon in natural systems like soil and forests.

Cllr Blake Pain, the county council’s cabinet member for the environment and the green agenda, said: “We are a green council. “That’s why we’re consulting on our draft strategy and action plan and joining forces with residents, councils, businesses, universities and others in the race to net zero.

“We can’t tackle these challenges alone,” said Cllr Pain.

“Everyone in the county has a part to play in helping us to get to net zero by 2045.

“We can make a big difference and I would urge people to get involved.

“By having your say, you’ll be shaping a cleaner, greener and healthier Leicestershire for future generations.”

The consultation is open until Tuesday July 26.

The huge exercise features a planned social media campaign with the hashtag #NetZeroLeicestershire, a Facebook live and discussions with young people - as part of the wider engagement process.

For copies of the questionnaire in other formats, please email [email protected]

And you can learn a lot more about the county council’s net zero ambitions by visiting the authority’s net zero web page here: https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/have-your-say/current-engagement/net-zero-strategy-and-action-plan-2045