At Cabinet today (1 October), New Forest District Council (NFDC) reviewed its Climate Change and Nature Emergency Annual Report for 2024 to 2025, which highlights the progress made in tackling climate change and improving nature across the district.
Covering from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, the report highlights achievements under the council’s four priorities of carbon reduction, climate adaptation, nature recovery, and programme management.
During this time, NFDC achieved a 2% reduction in its own carbon emissions over the past year, mirroring a 2% emissions reduction across the district. Actions to help towards this carbon reduction include ongoing partnership working with organisations such as Community Energy New Forest to support renewable energy generation.
Other actions include the council’s ongoing use of an electric vehicle fleet for cleaning and servicing 23 public convenience sites, installation of new electric vehicle chargers, and replacement of gas boilers with two air source heat pumps at Appletree Court offices. Government data in the report shows the district’s emissions have fallen around 73% since 1990, exceeding the UK average reduction of 56%.
The council continued to strengthen community and organisational resilience through climate adaptation. Over the past year, two community forums took place with town and parish councils to assess local climate risks and develop responses, and the council produced new climate adaptation guides for residents, officers, and members to help them plan for a changing climate.
NFDC has also continued its nature recovery work to enhance biodiversity. During the planting season it planted 51 new trees, ran its ’Let it Bee’ campaign to support pollinators, conducted ecological surveys on rare species such as the horseshoe bat in Avon Valley, and embedded ecological enhancements as a requirement in new planning applications.
New Forest District Council strengthened programme management to ensure activity is coordinated, progress is monitored, and accountability is maintained. As part of this, staff have taken part in Carbon Literacy Training, councillors have continued their involvement through Overview and Scrutiny Panel sessions, and a dedicated Climate Change and Nature Emergency Steering Group has supported staff engagement.
Cllr Geoffrey Blunden, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, said: “Since declaring a Climate and Nature Emergency in 2021 we have been steadily embedding action across everything we do. This year’s report shows how that long-term commitment is delivering results – from cutting our own carbon emissions to making our communities more resilient and protecting biodiversity across the district.
“But we know there is still more that we can do, which is why we remain committed to working with our staff, communities, and partners to making the changes needed to reach both our, and the government’s, aims of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Together we can build a more climate resilient, sustainable, and healthier New Forest for generations to come.”
The report also showcases local project case studies, including the council’s coastal Crabby litter-bag dispenser scheme, which reduced seaside litter by 28% per visitor in 2024, and its A35 roadside gamification project, which achieved a 75% litter reduction compared to the previous year.
Looking ahead, the council has established a Member Task and Finish Group, which started in May 2025, to inform the longer-term strategic direction of its Climate Change and Nature Emergency work and is expanding its dedicated climate change and sustainability team to continue progress.
The full 2024 to 2025 report is available on New Forest District Council’s website: https://democracy.newforest.gov.uk/documents/s34268/Report%20-%20Climate%20Change%20and%20Nature%20Emergency%20Annual%20Update%20202425.pdf