Welcome to our June newsletter, containing all the latest news and updates from across West Sussex.
We can all see evidence of the ways our climate is changing around us. Even if we drastically reduce our carbon emissions, the impacts of climate change will still be felt.
We have published new ‘climate resilience’ webpage to help you understand and better prepare for climate change impacts such as flooding and extreme heat. The new webpage provides advice on preparing ourselves, our homes, our communities and businesses for extreme conditions, along with links to further information and weather alerts.
Please take a look and discuss this important topic with your friends and family.
 Air pollution is linked to a range of health problems at every stage of life - from premature birth and effects on organ development in childhood, through to lung disease, diabetes, strokes, and cancer in adulthood.
Air pollution can reduce life expectancy and is associated with up to 43,000 deaths a year in the UK.
Though the impacts of air pollution are felt by everyone - children, older people, and people with existing health conditions are more likely to be affected. You can view local and national air quality forecasts at Sussex-Air and DEFRA. For those people who are sensitive to pollution, sign up for our extreme weather alerts.
We’re working to improve air quality in the county and as we approach #CleanAirDay on 19 June, we’d like to encourage you to consider what you can do to help. Possible actions include walking, wheeling, and cycling more often instead of driving, choosing electric vehicles where possible, and avoiding unnecessary burning at home. Find out more from Sussex-Air about how you can help improve local air quality.
Did you know that you can contribute to the cost of a new tree to be planted outside or near your property through our donate a tree scheme?
Orders need to be received by the end of June to secure planting this winter. The cost covers the purchase of the tree from a reputable company as well as on-going care and maintenance over a three-year period.
To help the new trees establish we ask that you water them regularly, especially during periods of dry weather.
 You may have already heard about the work West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton & Hove councils and organisations are carrying out to prepare two Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) for Sussex.
This is needed to protect the varied and iconic wildlife habitats and species we are lucky enough to have in our county.
At the heart of each LNRS are collaboratively produced and locally agreed priorities for nature's recovery, and the actions or measures that are needed to bring them about. The county council continue to lead and support the development and roll-out of Local Nature Recovery Strategies as one of the 'nature and environment' priority actions in our Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP).
More than 100 draft habitat measures have now been published with detailed information about how they could be implemented.
Later this year we hope to be able to share the draft strategy for West Sussex with you all along with details of a public consultation where you can give your views.
We’ve helped to develop a new toolkit to help local authorities better plan and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
Supporting resilience planning is one of our priority actions within our Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. So we were pleased to be one of three local authorities in the country to work on the Rapid Adaptation Pathways Assessment, led by the Environment Agency and The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport.
Along with officers from Adur & Worthing Councils we hosted a workshop to assess key climate threats facing Worthing, discuss what actions could be taken based on different levels of risk, and identify how we could adapt to deal with situations which may occur.
The toolkit is now available for all local authorities in the country to use. We will use it to identify local adaptation projects and community engagement activities, and will also replicate the process in other areas of the county.
Our recycling and waste team is running its annual survey to gather information on what you already know about recycling, and what information would help you to recycle more.
The survey is open until 30 June and will take just a few minutes to complete.
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Great Big Green Week continues until 15 June, its the UK’s largest annual celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature. Are you getting involved? Take a look at our Climate Action and Adaption Plan to see the action we're taking to address climate change in West Sussex.
- Book your ticket to join Sussex Bay leaders at the pubic one year anniversary webinar on 27 June 12.30 to 2.00pm. They'll be reflecting on their achievements so far including the establishment of the UK's first Blue Natural Capital Lab, and local initiatives which are having a real and immediate impact on the communities and ecosystems of Sussex Bay with insights from people and organisations working together in our area to put nature and people first.
- Members of our Electric Vehicle delivery team attended a beach clean in Goring-by-Sea on 6 June along with colleagues from Connected Kerb, our delivery partner for the installation and maintenance of the West Sussex Chargepoint Network.
- The South Downs National Park Authority is seeking your views on their new draft vision and the seven ambitious, shared aims that have been identified for the next five years. The SDNP Partnership Management Plan is the most important document for the National Park. Take part in Together Now for Nature, Climate and People.
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Apply now for the Lund Fellowship funding for work that complements the work of the High Weald Nature and Community Fund. Potential projects could include research into creating a greener economy, work to engage young people in nature conservation or species reintroductions.
If you have any questions or want to share local climate action stories, email us at climatechange@westsussex.gov.uk.
Join our community of climate champions, can you add a new map pin to our Community Climate Action Map.
Passionate about your local environment? Do you know someone who would like this newsletter? Please forward it to them so they can sign up using the link below.
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