Everyone in West Sussex is being invited to take part in a survey to find out how Covid-19 restrictions have affected their response to climate change.  

The West Sussex Climate Conversation looks at how our behaviour has changed during the pandemic – for example working from home or exploring locally - and how this has affected our local environment.

Information gathered will be used by the County Council, as well as District and Borough Councils, to help support residents and businesses to continue with, or start more, positive actions.

The survey is being led by Local Partnerships, a body set up to support councils in tackling challenges and to share their findings.

You can take part in the survey here.

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Don’t miss out on the opportunity to lower your energy bills and create a warmer, more sustainable home environment with the Green Homes Grant. 

With this grant homeowners in England, including landlords, can claim up to £5,000 to pay part of the cost for energy saving measures.

Low income households can get 100% of the costs of work covered up to a total cost of £10,000.  

Energy saving measure include insulation improvements and low carbon heat systems, as well secondary supporting improvements.

Find out further details here.

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we will face in our county. Human activity has already led to 1°C of global warming from pre-industrial levels, which is having a damaging impact on lives, infrastructure and ecosystems in communities across West Sussex.

The County Council approved a Climate Change Strategy in July 2020 which is aligned with our ambitious target to be carbon neutral by 2030. This work contributes to the wider national commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050 and to strengthen the UK’s preparedness for climate change.

You can view the Climate Change Strategy here.

Our Highways Team is starting work with local communities to create less manicured roadside verges.

These verges will attract pollinators and encourage wildflowers.

The process is known as wilding.

This is part of Highways’ ‘Improving Local Places and Places’ initiative which empowers neighbourhoods to focus on local needs and priorities.

Anyone interested in ‘wilding’ the verges in their neighbourhood or taking part in other local priority activities should contact active.communities@westsussex.gov.uk.

There have been more than 6,000 registrations for the first round of the Solar Together Sussex scheme which helps residents to install a high-quality solar PV or battery systems at a competitive price.

The group buying scheme is run by the West Sussex County Council Energy Services team with Sussex councils and iChoosr, who are experts in saving money through group buying.

The autumn scheme is now closed but you can register your interest in future rounds here.