Our ambition is for Worcester to become carbon neutral by 2030
Worcester City Council declared a climate emergency in July 2019 and committed itself to taking action with the ambition of the city becoming carbon neutral by 2030. The authority has created a strategy setting out policies to achieve this:
- Making the work of Worcester City Council carbon neutral
- Developing the city's low carbon economy and ensuring sustainability becomes embedded in the practices of businesses
- Protecting Worcester's natural environment and enhancing its biodiversity
- Ensuring the city is prepared for and able to cope with the effects and impacts of the changing climate
- Reducing Worcester's consumption of resources.
The strategy has been drawn up with input from Conservative, Labour and Green members of the Council, along with local stakeholders.
Read the Environmental Sustainability Strategy.
Reducing C02 emissions: how we’re doing
Total 2020 emission for Worcester
- 298.4 ktCO2
- 3.0 tCO2 per person
41% Domestic; 30% Transport; 13% Industry; 9% Public Sector; 8% Commercial
Data from the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy “subset dataset”, representing carbon dioxide emissions within the scope of influence of local authorities. 2020 is the most recent year for which data is available.
Charging your electric vehicle in Worcester
Nine EV charging points are available at St Martin's Gate multi-story car park, in the centre of Worcester.
Worcester City Council will be investing £200K in 2023 to install EV charge points at more locations, including King Street and Tallow Hill car parks
Active travel
We’re investing £4.5 million in active travel over the next three years, following a successful application to central Government’s Towns Fund.
As well as introducing a public bike share/hire scheme in Worcester, it will fund the creation of over seven miles of new and upgraded walking and cycling routes.
- Next stage of £19.6m investment in Worcester
- City Council takes to pedal power to help keep Worcester moving
- Help shape Worcester’s new transport strategy
- Worcestershire cycling and walking guides
How to reduce waste and save money
We encourage everyone in Worcester to reduce their consumption of single-use plastics.
Worcester City Council took decision in 2019 to ban purchase of all single-use plastic products in our day-to-day work and at our events.
We were one of the UK’s first authorities to ban the release of helium balloons and Chinese lanterns from Council-owned land.
- Let's Waste Less
- Worcester City Council bans single-use plastics
- Worcester food businesses urged to cut out single-use plastics
- Balloon and Sky Lantern release policy v3 1 May 2016.pdf
Help to insulate your home and save energy
We’re working hard to improve the energy efficiency of homes in Worcester. Homeowners with a combined income of £30,000 are entitled to free energy efficiency work.
Environment Committee
Find out about key environment-related decisions made by your councillors.
Boosting biodiversity
Find out more about the action we’re taking to protect the environment.
- Worcester cemetery wins Green Flag for the first time – giving the city FIVE flags to wave!
- Orchids discovered as city council biodiversity plan blossoms
- Cattle ‘let loose’ as part of natural care plan on meadows - Worcester City Council
- Woodlands and wildflowers – a new look for Perdiswell Park
- Splash of colour along roadside verges as nature is allowed to take its course
- Helping hand to increase bird numbers in Worcester
- Environmental Group digs deep for wildlife feast
- 400 saplings planted as part of Worcester Charter 400
- Worcester communities use green grants to pledge positive action for 2022
- See our dedicated section on Enhancing biodiversity