Tackling climate change

Climate and ecological emergency

We declared a climate and ecological emergency in 2019 and made this a corporate priority. We pledge to become net zero as an organisation by 2030, and net zero as a borough by 2050.

While 99 per cent of the borough's emissions are outside of our direct control, we pledge to support individuals, community groups, businesses and schools to become net zero. This particular target is everyone’s responsibility, and we all have an important part to play.

To help us achieve our net zero pledges, and support residents and businesses to get involved, we have developed a  Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy (PDF 7.8MB). Our strategy sets out our understanding and priorities to reduce our emissions. Under each of these key areas we provide an outline of our actions, our support for others and actionable steps you can take as an individual.

• Our key objectives
• Information on our carbon emissions - both as an organisation and a borough
• Our plan for action - including what we and the community can do
• The key areas we are focusing on:

• Sustainable Transport
• Saving Energy, Efficient Energy
• Nature Recovery

Our emissions

We calculate our carbon footprint annually, per financial year, using recorded billed consumption. This is the most accurate way to calculate our emissions. We are currently collecting the data for 2023-2024. We will shortly update this page with our carbon emissions calculations.

Calculate your carbon footprint

We have teamed up with ClimateHero to create a Dacorum-specific carbon footprint calculator. To work out your emissions, enter information about your energy consumption, travel habits, and other activities in the ClimateHero calculator.

Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership (HCCSP)

The partnership comprises all local district and borough councils, Hertfordshire County Council and the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). Dacorum Councillor Adrian England is the Chair of the HCCSP, and also part of the East of England Regional Climate Change Forum.

The partnership brings together people from across the county, to share information and push ahead with joint projects. HCCSP has created a Sustainability Guide, which shares ideas and information about how you can take action in your home and your local community. More information can be found on the HCCSP website.

Carbon Literacy accreditation

We're proud to be the first borough council in the UK to achieve a Silver level Carbon Literate Organisation accreditation.

To be fully equipped for helping the borough reduce its carbon emissions as much, and as quickly as possible, we worked with APSE Energy to deliver Carbon Literacy Training to 60 of our employees, including our Chief Executive, Claire Hamilton.

The Carbon Literacy training course has been recognised by the United Nations at COP21 - the Paris Climate Conference - where it was chosen as one of 100 worldwide Transformative Action Programs. We're working hard to reach our environmental goals and being recognised as a carbon literate organisation is just one of the many steps that we are putting in place to help reduce our carbon emissions.

Contact us

If you would like more information, or if you have a specific request, please email us at climate.action@dacorum.gov.uk.