Guildford Borough Council sets out ambitious Climate and Nature Strategy
The strategy sets out a clear pathway for the borough to reach Net Zero carbon emissions by 2030. We'll do this while protecting and enhancing the natural environment for future generations.
The plan has been developed in collaboration with Waverley Borough Council. It brings together a coordinated programme of action to:
- reduce emissions
- support nature recovery
- and strengthen our borough's resilience to climate impacts.
Cllr Angela Goodwin, Lead Councillor for Environment and Sustainability at Guildford Borough Council, said:
"I'm delighted that we can launch our new Climate and Nature Strategy and Action Plan. It's a strategy that sets out a clear and ambitious vision for Guildford's future.
"Tackling climate change and restoring nature are among the most important challenges we face, both globally and on a local level, and as a Council we're committed to taking decisive action.
"By working together with our communities and partners, we can build a more sustainable, resilient and thriving borough."
This Strategy and Action Plan reinforces our commitment to collaborating with partners and neighbouring councils. It also helps future-proof our approach to climate and nature action. This is important as we prepare for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and the transition to a new West Surrey authority in 2027.
We've included actions to complete before 2027. These will strengthen our climate response ahead of LGR.
A coordinated approach to climate action
The strategy focuses on four key priorities:
- reducing carbon emissions across our operations and the wider borough
- supporting biodiversity and restoring natural habitats
- building resilience to the impacts of climate change
- working in partnership with residents, businesses and organisations.
We know that transport and energy use remain the largest sources of our emissions. With that in mind, we'll prioritise practical measures to:
- reduce energy demand
- improve efficiency
- and support sustainable travel.
Delivering change through partnerships
We understand achieving Net Zero will need a collective effort. The strategy outlines a strong commitment to partnership working. This will bring together
- local communities
- businesses
- and public sector partners
to drive meaningful change.
Nature-based solutions, such as tree planting and habitat restoration, will play a key role in both reducing carbon and enhancing biodiversity across the borough.
The new Climate and Nature Action Plan will be supported by ongoing monitoring and regular reporting to ensure transparency and accountability.
Published on: 20 March 2026.