Our response to the climate and biodiversity crises
We are dedicated to building a low-carbon, climate-resilient and wildlife-rich future for our area. Our Climate Action Plan (Parts One and Two) sets our path toward net zero, while our Climate Adaptation Plan equips our infrastructure and communities to withstand climate impacts.
Alongside these, our Nature Strategy and Action Plan and the Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) support a coordinated approach to habitat restoration and species recovery, recognising the vital role that healthy ecosystems play in building climate resilience and safeguarding our natural environment for the future.
Find out more about our key plans and strategies to address climate change
We are:
- Continuing delivery of the Climate Action Plan
- Delivering our Nature Strategy and Action Plan.
- Delivering the Climate Adaptation Strategy
- Delivering an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy to install more charging points across Westmorland and Furness, with £4 million funding from the Government LEVI scheme;
We have:
- Constructed a 2MW solar farm in Barrow;
- Become a bronze accredited Carbon Literate organisation and are working towards silver accreditation;
- Been awarded winners of the Bees’ Needs Champion Awards for 2026;
- Delivered £1 million of leisure centre decarbonisation measures on Appleby and Penrith Leisure Centres.
We continue to work with partners by:
- Leading on the Cumbria-wide Local Nature Recovery Strategy delivery programme;
- Committing a £900,000 Priority Investment Fund to the Climate and Nature Partnership Fund, supporting partnership working to tackle climate change, and support nature recovery;
- Supporting the Cumbria Local Resilience Forum to identify risks and prepare for the impacts caused by our changing climate;
- Planting one tree for every resident, a total of 250,000 trees;
- Awarding £300,000 of funding to support the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership continue to accelerate decarbonisation actions across Westmorland and Furness including supporting the Cumbria Climate Assembly;
- Using second homes funding to support partnership working, including supporting Cumbria Local Nature Partnership, Love Windermere Partnership and the Cumbria Peat Partnership.
- Supporting the County Wildlife Sites project to resurvey the 1,600 sites selected for their nature conservation value.