Our plan and actions

Carbon, Environment and Biodiversity Plan and information on what North Devon Council are doing

The third Annual Review of our Carbon, Environment and Biodiversity Plan was published in 2025.

In the past year we have:

  • Installed solar panels at Ilfracombe Swimming Pool with funding from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund.
  • Secured £866k Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding to improve Brynsworthy Environment Centre and the Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe.
  • Completed a £3.8M project to refit our waste processing facilities at Brynsworthy. This will enable us to sort more waste streams and to produce higher quality recyclates for sale.
  • Delivered support to farmers and the agricultural industry through North Devon Plus.

We have also produced a simple to read summary of the council’s plan and of our Carbon Footprint.

Previous versions of our plans are available:

Councillor Climate Action Team

North Devon Council have set up a Councillor Climate Action Team to provide an operational response and delivery of our stated aim that North Devon Council will achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. 

This group is chaired by our Lead Member for Climate and Biodiversity, Councillor Ricky Knight.

Devon Climate Emergency

North Devon Council signed the Devon Climate Declaration. We are members of the Devon Climate Emergency Response Group, working with partners to create a Devon Carbon Plan, and an Adaptation Plan for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The group has three objectives:

  • Improve the resilience of Devon's environment against the effects of climate change.
  • Facilitate the reduction of carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050 at the latest, to include substantial nature improvement to absorb carbon.
  • Prepare Devon's communities for the necessary adaptations to infrastructure and services to respond to a warmer world.

Town and Parish Councils

Declare your commitment

Town and Parish Councils can sign up to the Devon Climate Emergency Declaration via Devon Climate Emergency's website.

Understanding the Carbon Emissions of your area

The Centre for Sustainable Energy and Exeter University have produced a carbon footprint tool for town and parish Councils.

The Place-Based Carbon Calculator estimates the per-person carbon footprint for every Lower Super Output Area in England. Lower Super Output Area's are small statistical areas with a population of about 1,500 - 3,000. It draws on a wide range of data and research to give a representative view of how carbon footprints vary across the country. 

The tool was produced with funding from UK Research and Innovation through the Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions. The site is operated by the Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions project on behalf of the University of Leeds and the University of Oxford.

Calculate your Council's carbon footprint

Local Partnerships and the Local Government Associated created a Greenhouse Gas Accounting Tool to provide a straightforward and consistent approach for councils seeking to calculate their own carbon baseline.

The tool produces summary tables and charts to help local authorities understand their most significant sources of emissions, which can then be used to prioritise actions to reduce carbon emissions.

Councils are also able to benchmark their emissions with other councils to understand how their performance compares with their peers.

Take action!

Friends of the Earth have produced a report on 20 actions parish and town councils can take on the climate and nature emergency.

Funding and advice

Funding may be available to help you take action. You could check out our latest North Devon Climate Action page or visit Devon County Council's funding news page.