Council launches climate strategy

A FOUR-YEAR plan has been launched help to reduce carbon emissions in highways operations.

Hampshire Highways has outlined its proposals for reducing carbon emissions in all day-to-day operations, including maintenance works, energy use in buildings and depots, vehicles and fuel, and adapting its network due to changes in the climate.

It comes after the council was recognised in the 2020 shortlist for Highways Magazine’s Environmental Sustainability Award.

Councillor Rob Humby, deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and the environment at Hampshire County Council, said: ‘I am delighted that the sustainable way our Highways service is looking after Hampshire’s roads has been recognised nationally – and that our collaborative and innovative work on projects such as developing facilities to recycle highways maintenance materials, trial the use of plastic kerbing and move to electric vehicles is delivering such significant results.

‘We will explore innovations and opportunities, invest in lasting change, and continually monitor and review the reductions in carbon emissions the Highways service is achieving to identify where improvements can be made.’

Councillor Jan Warwick, Hampshire County Council’s climate change adviser to the Executive, said: ‘We are making significant progress in putting in place policies, plans and measures which demonstrate how we can embed climate change considerations in everything we do.