Well-being Objective 5

Climate and Nature Emergency Action Plan

• Completed energy performance surveys on council properties
• Moved to a green electricity tariff - 100% of the electricity the council uses is from renewable sources
• Saved 3,868 tonnes of CO2 through energy efficient measures undertaken across the council between 2011 and 2019
• Installed 10 double electric vehicles charging points for public use in council owned car-parks
• Installed renewable technology across council assets that generates a total of 355kWh
• Undertaken a renewable and low carbon energy assessment of the borough to inform renewable energy targets in the Replacement Local Development Plan
• Installed 7 electric vehicle chargers for the council’s fleet
• Introduced 13 electric vehicles into the council’s fleet
• Established a community Climate Ambassadors Network
• Reduced the council’s net zero carbon footprint by an estimated 21.8% by 2020/21 from a baseline in 2019/20 of
• 59,100 CO2e tonnes[i]

• Accelerate the reduction of our own emissions from council buildings – including:
  • Initiating a £1m Photovoltaic installations program across 15 sites that will produce 3.9% of the council’s annual electricity (on top of the 2% that we already generate ourselves)
  • Reduce consumption across Torfaen Leisure Trust sites through a £1million energy reduction and efficiency project
• Develop a net zero carbon fleet Strategy and Action Plan to reduce the carbon footprint of the council’s vehicles
• Upgrade the grid capacity at the council’s depot to maximise the opportunities for electric vehicle charging and renewable energy
• Install a further 10 electric vehicle chargers for council vehicles

Resilient

Cohesive

Healthier

Climate and Nature Emergency Action Plan

• Developed a Green Infrastructure Strategy and Action Plan setting out opportunities to improve the management of our green spaces
• Established 7 Local Nature Reserves that are managed for the benefit of nature and people
• Trialed a new approach to grass cutting on verges and in new meadows to improve biodiversity
• Managed grassland and trees to capture and store carbon and increase biodiversity

• Train 300 staff to act on the climate and nature emergency
• Commence the process to designate a new Local Nature Reserve to protect land that is particularly valuable for nature and provide opportunities for community involvement
• Launch Green Infrastructure, and Biodiversity Guidance for developers to help them to protect and enhance biodiversity in their house building projects in Torfaen
• Protect 87 houses, 10 businesses and 2 schools from future flooding in Northville, Cwmbran through completion of the Blaen Bran brook flood alleviation scheme
• Revise our approach to grassland management to capture & store carbon, enhance biodiversity, whilst also providing space for sport & recreation
• Remove decaying ash trees along road corridors to ensure safety to road users
• Maintain our existing tree stock and plant new trees to increase carbon storage

Resilient  

Cohesive

Prosperous

Healthier

Equal

Recycling and Waste Action Plan

• Opened a reuse shop
• Placed an order for 19 new recycling vehicles which are due for delivery between September 2022 and March 2023

• Roll out new recycling vehicles which will increase the range of materials collected for recycling
• Take forward our plans to build a new recycling sorting facility
• Identify what specific interventions are going to be needed to increase recycling in the County
• Introduce weekly cardboard collections by September 2023 to increase the offer to residents and increase recycling rate

Resilient

Healthier

Cohesive