Isle Of Wight Climate Plan Could Be Tweaked With 'Urgent' Poverty Reduction Priorities

Reducing fuel and food poverty and improving the population’s wellbeing are the ‘urgent’ priorities due to be considered, in a tweak to a major Isle of Wight climate plan.

The environment and community protection committee (ECPC) will decide whether to approve the Environmental Improvement and Climate Adaptation Strategy 2021 – 2040 Review and Refresh 2025 at its Thursday evening meeting (January 29).

County Hall’s Climate and Environment Strategy 2021 – 2040 sets out the council’s aims and targets to reach net-carbon zero in its own operations and as an Island by 2030 and 2040 respectively.

The phrase net-zero refers to cutting carbon emissions to a small amount or residual emissions which can be absorbed and durably stored by nature and other carbon dioxide removal measures, leaving zero in the atmosphere – according to the United Nations (UN).

Both Isle of Wight communities and the Island’s local authority have made ‘significant achievements’ towards the original strategy’s goals, with an overall 27 per cent Island-wide carbon reduction and 37 per cent within council activities, County Hall has said.

Introducing the Review and Refresh paper, Cllr Karen Lucioni, ECPC chair, said:

“The global impact of our changing climate requires careful thought and strategies to ensure that we can as a community and as a local authority make changes that will have a positive impact on reducing harmful consequences, continually improving the environment in which we live.

“This document and the updated Action Plan attached, is creating a sustainable future for our Island and, together with other strategies and plans in existence and those being developed, will support our valuable yet fragile environment and our status as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.”

The 2025 strategy refresh reorders the council’s environment and climate response around three ‘urgent and interconnected priorities’: reducing fuel poverty, lowering food poverty and improving population wellbeing.

It says County Hall’s focus is shifting from ‘abstract carbon targets’ to ‘practical, place-based solutions’ reducing fossil fuel dependency, enhancing local food systems and building resilience to climate effects.

Actions areas listed include improving housing energy efficiency to lower bills and reduce cold-related illness, supporting community food growing and redistribution to address hunger and promote sustainable diets and investing in nature-based solutions which deliver cleaner air, flood protection, biodiversity and mental health benefits.

The paper refers to steps specifically relating to council operations such as transitioning council buildings to low-carbon heating and renewable electricity, electrifying the council fleet and improving building fabric to reduce energy demand and overheating risk.

Those connected to Island-wide efforts include supporting community-led renewable energy projects as well as the promotion of active travel and low-carbon transport options.

Climate adaptation is also mentioned as central to the council’s approach.

“As the Island faces warmer summers, wetter winters, and increased coastal risks, we must prepare our infrastructure, homes, and services to withstand and thrive under changing conditions,” the document says.

“This includes cooling homes, protecting coastlines, restoring ecosystems, and ensuring access to clean water and healthy food.”

ECPC will meet at County Hall at 5pm on Thursday (January 29).