How Reading is doing

Our plan is arranged in a series of six themes covering key impacts, plus two cross-cutting themes covering engagement and adaptation

Energy

Taking action on energy and low-carbon development

Our aim is that by 2025 Reading is taking urgent action to decarbonise its energy networks, increase energy efficiency and create renewable energy capacity. It has concrete plans to reduce demand and increase renewables capacity to cover 100% of energy needs.

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Energy

Transport

Taking action on transport and mobility

Our aim is to cut emissions by reducing the need to travel by more polluting modes of transport, shifting more journeys to sustainable modes of transport and supporting the transition from petrol/diesel to electric vehicles.

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Transport

Water

Taking action to conserve water and minimise flood risk

Reading aims to become the most water aware and water efficient town in the UK, going beyond national targets in water conservation, while helping people

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Water

Nature

Taking action on the natural environment and open spaces

By 2025 the people of Reading will live in a greener town with open spaces that store more carbon as well as giving shade for hot summers, corridors for wildlife and some flood control. New developments will include biodiversity net gain and better soil management.

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Nature

Health

Taking action on health and wellbeing

By 2025, people in Reading will be well informed about how to self-manage the health impacts of climate change, benefiting from policies and programmes that enable them to thrive despite its effects.

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Health

Resources

Taking action to reduce consumption and waste

Our aim is to put Reading on track to become a zero waste town by 2030 by innovating to find new ways of using resources more efficiently and thereby minimising our contribution to climate change.

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Resources

Adaptation

Preparing Reading for the impacts of climate change

The Reading Climate Change Partnership commissioned a first adaptation plan for Reading in February 2020 . This is not a detailed action plan, rather, it indicates headline climate impacts for Reading by the end of the century, describing the big picture risks alongside the opportunities for the town to adapt.

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Adaptation

Engagement

Inspiring and equipping everybody in Reading to take action

Our goal for climate action in our community is that everyone who lives, works or studies in Reading understands Reading’s pathway to net zero carbon, is equipped with the knowledge, tools and support required to make their contribution to it, and takes ownership and responsibility for the corporate and individual action required to get there.

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Engagement

Summary

A summary of the 2020-25 Reading Climate Emergency Strategy

This is not a detailed action plan, rather, it indicates headline climate impacts for Reading by the end of the century, describing the big picture risks alongside the opportunities for the town to adapt. It sets out key steps for consideration in each category of adaptation and recommends a number of areas of work to improve Reading’s resilience to climate impacts.

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Summary

The Journey

Here’s how we worked with citizens and organisations to develop our climate emergency strategy and action plan

timeline

Net zero

Why is it important that Reading becomes a net zero town?

The science is clear that taking urgent action to reduce emissions is a practical imperative. While the challenges associated with reaching the net zero by 2030 target will be significant, so will be the benefits.

Download the plan as pdf

How you can help us achieve it

Delivery of our vision for net zero carbon by 2030 depends on everybody who lives, works and studies in the town taking action.

Organisations

Learn how to make the change as an organisation in Reading

How I can help as an organisation

Individuals

As a resident, learn how you can make lifestyle changes

How I can help as an individual

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Organisations in Reading have already joined our network

Together, we can achieve so much more … join us today and take action to support our goal of a net zero, climate resilient town

Take Action and Join the network

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