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Welcome to our August newsletter, containing all the latest news and updates across West Sussex.
 The first phase of a six-year plan to become carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2030 has been set out by West Sussex County Council.
We have already made significant progress, we've helped to install 2,500 solar systems in people's homes and generated almost 17 million kWh of renewable energy last year from our solar farms and solar panels installed on our buildings.
Our Climate Action and Adaptation Plan for 2024–2027 has now been published. It identifies 20 priority actions to be taken across the council and in partnership with key stakeholders in the county.
The actions are broken down into six pathways focusing on issues such as buildings and energy, transport, and nature and environment. Key actions include:
- Continuing to decarbonise county council buildings, following the recently completed works on seven libraries, six fire stations, and a day centre
- Installing electric vehicle chargepoints at key depots to enable county council vehicles to switch to electric models
- Working closely with schools to help them address their most pressing sustainability challenges
- Working with partners to produce the West Sussex Local Nature Recovery Strategy
- Supporting the clean energy transition for the community through Local Area Energy Planning and solar PV group purchasing schemes.
 Watch our video to hear about the £8.2m programme to make seven libraries, six fire stations, and a day centre more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
It’s all part of our work to reduce our emissions and be a carbon-neutral organisation by 2030.
The video shows the energy-saving improvements that have been made to Storrington Library, including two air source heat pumps and solar panels, as well as a cosy and fresh interior to welcome library users.
 As the lead local Flood Authority, the county council must develop, maintain, apply, and monitor a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.
The strategy guides how we work with stakeholders to manage flood risk in the local area.
We are currently developing a new strategy, and we’d like you to share your local knowledge of flooding issues, how you might prepare for flooding, and your thoughts on how flood risk could be better managed in the future across West Sussex.
The survey will take around five minutes to complete and the results will be used when preparing the full strategy.
- Did you know that you can check air quality during hot weather? This can be particularly useful for those with respiratory conditions. Register for Sussex-air quality alerts, which send free messages to your mobile, voicemail, email, or app about poor air quality in your area.
- We're helping to keep otters safe when crossing the road by installing a new ‘mammal shelf’ in a culvert under the A272.
- Buchan Country Park, near Crawley, has been awarded its fourteenth consecutive Green Flag Award.
- Steyning Fire Station will open its doors to the public on Saturday 31 August, between 11am to 5pm, to showcase some of the recent energy efficiency improvements made to the building. Find out how you can make changes within your own home with inspiration from Eco Open Houses.
- The West Sussex Waste Partnership has awarded a new schools' contract for recycling, waste prevention and climate education to Wastebuster. School children of all ages in West Sussex will be able to continue learning about environmental challenges and how to take action through the free waste and climate education programme available via the Wastebuster schools’ website.
- If you're a member of a group or organisation working for the benefit of nature in Sussex, please complete this survey about your activities and interests. Your answers will inform the priorities for nature at the heart of Sussex Local Nature Recovery Strategies. See the results of the public survey.
- The British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA) is urging UK beekeepers and the public to be increasingly vigilant to the presence of Asian hornets and report any sightings. Asian hornets are distinctive and can be identified by their very dark body, wide orange stripe on the fourth abdomen section and yellow leg ends. They’re most active in August/September. There have been a small number of confirmed sightings across Kent and East Sussex in the past 3 months. If you suspect you have seen an Asian hornet, you should report this using the app ‘Asian Hornet Watch’ or this online report form. Alternatively, e-mail alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk and include a photograph if you can safely obtain one.
- The Knepp Estate is hosting its second Sussex Country Side Day event on Saturday 7 September. Find out more about the event organised by the Sussex branch of the national charity, Campaign to Protect Rural England.
If you have any queries, or want to share or celebrate local climate action, please email us at climatechange@westsussex.gov.uk.
You can also add a new map pin to our Community Climate Action Map - keep them coming!
Exploring climate vulnerability
You can explore climate vulnerability and other key community data in your area using our new Climate Vulnerability Index. The mapping tool contains information on demographics, adaptive capacity, and climate threats across the county.
If you have any queries, please email us CVI@westsussex.gov.uk.
If you know someone else who will be interested in reading this newsletter, please forward it so they can sign up using the link below.
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