Lewes district climate change and sustainability
Through our Climate Emergency Declaration we are committed to progressing towards our 2030 carbon reduction targets, and to improving our environment in partnership with our communities.
Latest update:
- LDC Climate Change and Sustainability update - November 2022 (PDF) [2MB]
- Find out how long left to limit global warming to 1.5° - Climate Clock
This page will be updated with information on current actions and future updates. Please read our strategy and get involved in local action. Also included below are useful links to other sources of information, Sussex wide action and links to general advice on things such as reducing energy consumption at home.
The Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy
The Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy will set out how the district Council addresses the causes and impacts of climate change in order to meet the Climate Emergency Declaration made in 2019.
The Strategy will contain key actions and milestones that, working together, the Council, our statutory partners, business, third sector and community partners will need to deliver to reach our net zero carbon target. The Strategy elaborates on the actions currently being progressed. The Council has a key role to play as a community leader and through the services we provide.
The strategy contains seven action areas which can be viewed by downloading the document at the bottom of this page. Links to further information and other sources of advice related to these areas are also provided below.
Energy and the built environment
LDC to implement new technical advice notes for developers
Councillors at Lewes District Council recently agreed to implement three new technical advice notes for developers that place greater focus on issues of sustainability, both in the planning phase of construction and when work is underway on site.
Energy Saving Trust
Information and advice on home energy efficiency measures to keep your home warm whilst reducing your carbon footprint and energy bills.
Fuel Poverty
Fuel poverty is a serious and complicated issue, which energy suppliers are helping to tackle in a number of ways.
Visit our webpage on Fuel poverty
UK Green Building Council
The UKGBC aims to improve the sustainability of the built environment, by transforming the way it is planned, designed, constructed, maintained and operated.
Report: UK housing: Fit for the future?
This report aims to assess the measures that need to be adopted in the housing sector to both manage climate change impacts and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Committee on Climate Change - Housing Fit For The Future (PDF) [4MB]
OVESCO
A community group run by local volunteers in East Sussex that creates community owned renewable energy projects so the local community can become zero carbon.
WWF: Let's make our workplaces sustainable
Tips on workplace sustainability.
Conserve Energy Future
30 ways to go green at workplaces.
Great British Insulation Scheme
On the 14 September 2023, the government launched the £1 billion Great British Insulation Scheme to help some families insulate their homes.. Families in lower council tax bands with less energy-efficient homes will be offered upgrades such as roof, loft or cavity wall insulation. Use an online checker for the Great British Insulation Scheme to find out if you are eligible.
Sustainable travel and air quality
Sustrans: Active Travel Toolkit
A charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle.
The Role of Active Travel in Improving Health
Air Quality News
Covers breaking news and key developments concerning the issue of air quality in towns and cities across the UK.
Friends of the Earth: Responsible travel: eco tips for getting around
Part of an international community dedicated to protecting the natural world and the wellbeing of everyone in it.
Friends of the Earth - Responsible Travel
DEFRA: Sustainable Travel Guides
Sustainable travel is about providing transport to suit local needs through a package of measures which promote attractive sustainable transport alternatives such as walking, cycling, public transport and sustainable car use.
DEFRA - Sustainable Travel Guides
Environmental Protection UK: Air pollution and transport
A national charity that provides policy analysis and information on air quality, land quality and noise and their effects on people and communities.
Biodiversity
Gardening for wildlife
Learn how to provide food, shelter and breeding spots for the wildlife in your garden.
The National Biodiversity Network
A collaborative partnership created to exchange biodiversity information, with over 200 members and almost 200 million wildlife records available.
DEFRA: Biodiversity 2020
A strategy for England's wildlife and ecosystem services.
DEFRA Biodiversity 2020 (PDF) [2MB]
Joint Nature Conservation Committee: UK Biodiversity Indicators 2020
The JNCC is the public body that advises the UK Government and devolved administrations on UK-wide and international nature conservation.
JNCC: UK biodiversity indicators 2020
The National Trust: What is biodiversity?
Europe's largest conservation charity, looking after nature, beauty and history for the nation to enjoy.
National Trust - What Is Biodiversity?
Natural England: Biodiversity
The government's adviser for the natural environment, helping to protect England's nature and landscapes for people to enjoy.
WWF: Biodiversity
The world's leading independent conservation organisation.
For downloadable posters and worksheets go to WWF Biodiversity
Agriculture and food
Sussex Wildlife Trust
A conservation charity for everyone who cares about nature in Sussex, focussed on protecting the rich natural life that is found across our towns, countryside and coast.
Lewes Friday Food Market
Lewes Local Community Interest Company (CIC) is a not-for-profit company with the broad aims of developing sustainable local food systems and making it easier for more people to buy good, healthy, seasonal food.
The National Trust: Food
Europe's largest conservation charity, looking after nature, beauty and history for the nation to enjoy. Sustainably produced, local and seasonal food is better for the environment.
Friends of the Earth: Food production and sustainable farming
Part of an international community dedicated to protecting the natural world and the wellbeing of everyone in it.
Friends of the Earth - Food Production and Sustainable Farming
Sustain: Sustainable food
An alliance of organisations and communities working together for a better system of food, farming and fishing, and cultivating the movement for change.
Sustainable Web - Sustainable Food
BBC Bitesize: Food security - a global concern
The BBC's educational website, with reference to increasing food sustainability.
BBC Bitesize - Increasing Food Sustainability
BBC: How cutting your food waste can help the climate
All food generates greenhouse gases to reach our plates, but when nearly a third of it is thrown away or wasted.
BBC - How Cutting Food Waste Can Help The Climate
United Nations News
Wasting food just feeds climate change, new UN environment report warns.
Reducing emissions from waste
Refill
Refill connect people to places they can eat, drink and shop without the pointless packaging.
Refill - life with less plastic
Plastic free communities
A community network tackling single-use plastic from beaches & green spaces.
Huge boost for district recycling in Lewes
A council review of waste and recycling facilities at every block of flats in Lewes district has led to over 100,000 litres of additional recycling capacity being created.
Eurostat: Greenhouse gas emissions from waste
Between 1995 and 2017, greenhouse gas emissions from waste in the EU have fallen by 42%.
UN Climate Change: Reducing Emissions - Companies and Organizations
Reduction measures for companies' or organisations' greenhouse gas emitting activities.
Report by Imperial College London: Centre for Environmental Policy
An exploration of the resource sector's greenhouse gas emissions in the UK and its potential to reduce the carbon shortfall in the UK 4th and 5th carbon budgets.
Imperial College London - greenhouse gas report
Water
Sussex Flow Initiative
A Natural Flood Management (NFM) project working with and restoring natural processes to reduce flood risk within the River Ouse catchment.
The World Bank: The water blogs
Ideas and solutions to address global water issues.
Green Facts: Water Resources
How could water resources be developed sustainably?
Water UK: a manifesto for water
The water industry in England has set out an ambitious new vision for the 2020s.
Waterwise
An independent, not-for-profit UK NGO focused on reducing water consumption in the UK.
Circular economy and community wealth
Citizens and Climate - Crowdfunding for Net Zero
As part of the Net Zero Innovation Project grant, funded by the Local Government Association, the Council and it's partner the University of Sussex has reviewed ways in which alternative financing could provide a way to fund projects to tackle the climate emergency. You can find the report, which summarises the work and the next steps, in the documents below.
The Circularity Gap Report 2021
Enacted globally, a circular economy can close the Emissions Gap.
The Conversation
What would a sustainable circular economy look like?
Join in at The Conversation
Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Develops and promote the idea of a circular economy.
Strategy Documents and More Information
East Sussex Environment Strategy 2020
A partnership of private, public and educational sector organisations has formed the Environment East Sussex Board, which has developed this Environment Strategy.
East Sussex County Council - Environment Strategy 2020
The Greater Brighton Economic Board
The Greater Brighton city region pledges to help tackle the climate change crisis and place itself at the centre of partnership efforts to effect real change.
The GB10: Pledges from Greater Brighton on the Environment
HM Government
Our waste, our resources: A strategy for England.
Gov.uk - Our Waste, Our Resources
You can view the Internal Council Carbon Baseline Report and the Lewes District Carbon Emissions Analysis and Pathways Report completed by Anthesis consultants by downloading the document below.
Right Here, Right Now COP26 films
On Friday 12 November 2021 we held a film screening as part of the Depot Cinema's two week Climate Action Festival.
The films shown are listed below:
- A Runner's Ode to Climate Change
- A Greener Seaford
- Newhaven Flood Alleviation Scheme
- Interviews with local people about climate change and COP26
- Local children's views on climate change
- Changing Lewes
- END
- On The Verge
- Help Our Kelp
- Let Nature Help