Introduction
The council continues to take a proactive and evidence-led approach to reducing carbon emissions, while strengthening resilience and delivering wider environmental benefits across the district. The council’s Carbon Action Plan remains central to this work, providing a structured framework for achieving net zero emissions by 2030 and the newly published District Wide Carbon Plan has set a scientific based net zero for the district of 2041 to stay within our fair share of carbon emissions.
Community engagement is a key pillar of our work. The continued success of initiatives such as the Sustainable Futures Forum and the Green Grants Programme demonstrates the vital role that residents, businesses and community groups are playing in supporting local climate action.
Council Journey to Net Zero Emissions
In ongoing efforts to address climate change, the council has made measurable progress in reducing its own operational emissions.
The council’s operational carbon footprint for 2024/25 was estimated at 3,094 tonnes of CO₂e, incorporating emissions from buildings, fleet, streetlighting, water use, business travel and an expanded assessment of supply chain emissions.
Based on comparable data on emissions from Scope 1 and 2 the Council’s operational carbon footprint has fallen from 726 tCO₂e in 2018/19 to 575 tCO₂e, representing a 20% reduction.
This progress has been driven by a significant reduction in diesel use within the council fleet, a substantial decrease in red diesel consumption, and an improved efficiency in streetlighting.
Future priorities include:
- Decarbonisation of high-consumption buildings
- Reducing emissions within major contracts and procurement
- Improving transport-related emissions from staff and fleet
District-Wide Carbon Reduction
Carbon emissions across Folkestone & Hythe have continued to fall significantly over time, with some of the largest reductions across Kent. Since 2005, emissions have decreased across domestic energy, transport and commercial sectors, with an overall reduction of 49% when all sources are included.
While this demonstrates strong progress, future reductions are expected to become more challenging, particularly in areas such as transport and domestic heating, which will require continued partnership working, funding and behavioural change.
Please see our newly published District Wide Carbon Plan for more information on how we can achieve net zero together.
Housing and Retrofit
The council continues to make significant progress in improving the energy efficiency of its housing stock, supporting both carbon reduction and the reduction of fuel poverty across the district.
Large-scale retrofit programmes delivered through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) have now resulted in hundreds of council homes benefiting from energy efficiency upgrades. These interventions are helping residents reduce their energy bills while also contributing to district-wide carbon reduction targets.
For example, there are currently around 380 council homes fitted with solar PV systems, with projected expansion to approximately 500 properties by April 2027.
The programme forms a key part of the council’s wider approach to delivering warmer, healthier homes, while supporting its net zero ambitions. Future work will continue to focus on scaling retrofit delivery, improving data quality, and targeting homes where the greatest carbon and cost savings can be achieved.
Community Engagement and Partnerships
Engaging residents, businesses and community organisations remains central to delivering climate action across the district.
The Sustainable Futures Forum continues to provide a platform for collaboration, bringing together local stakeholders to share ideas, knowledge and solutions to climate challenges.
The Green Grants Programme has also played a key role in enabling community-led action, providing financial support to a wide range of local projects. This has resulted in tangible carbon reduction, increased awareness, and stronger community involvement in sustainability initiatives.
Together, these initiatives are helping to embed climate action at a local level and support a more coordinated, district-wide response.
Communications and Public Engagement
The council’s climate change webpages have been updated to provide a more comprehensive and accessible resource for residents and stakeholders. This improved online hub brings together information on climate, nature and sustainability, supporting transparency, awareness and engagement.
Biodiversity and Nature Recovery
Biodiversity recovery continues to form an integral part of the council’s climate response. Local Plan policies support:
- Carbon-efficient design
- Protection and enhancement of ecological assets
- Delivery of biodiversity net gain
This work is aligned with the emerging Kent and Medway Local Nature Recovery Strategy, which will guide habitat improvement and ecological connectivity across the region.
In addition, operational activities such as reduced grass cutting and pollinator-friendly planting are supporting biodiversity enhancements across council-managed land.