How you can help

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Our aim is to be net zero by the year 2030.

To tackle climate change, we all need to take action. If we all make small changes, together we can start to make a big difference.

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Save energy, carbon and money

  • Use WWF's carbon footprint calculator to understand your individual impact
  • Switch to a green energy provider
  • Ensure your home is well-insulated
  • Service your boiler regularly
  • Access government advice on improving energy efficiency
  • Suffolk's Warm Homes Healthy People project helps vulnerable people and families make their homes cheaper to heat
  • Turn down your thermostat and use smart controls
  • Choose low energy appliances - look for A+ ratings
  • Turn off appliances rather than leaving them on standby
  • Wash clothes on a cool setting and air dry

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Consume less, waste less

  • Reduce, reuse and recycle
  • Make sure you are getting your recycling right
  • Bring home less packaging by getting your own containers refilled. Many local shops now offer product refills - including dry foods, tea, cleaning products, and toiletries
  • Sharing, making, fixing, upcycling, repurposing, and composting are all good habits to get into

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Encourage wildlife in your garden

  • Plant species that will encourage insects (particularly bees) and other wildlife to your garden. If you don't have a garden, even a window box or hanging basket can help
  • Plant trees - they are effective at absorbing carbon dioxide
  • Create other wildlife habitats in your garden using insect hotels, ponds or by allowing organic material to decompose
  • Install nesting boxes for birds and swifts, or roosting boxes for bats
  • Provide food, and clean fresh water, for birds and hedgehogs
  • More ideas about actions you can take to help wildlife at home is available from the Suffolk Wildlife Trust

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Eat less meat and more vegetables

  • Eat more meat-free meals
  • If or when you do eat meat, try to source local, higher welfare produce
  • Buy local wherever possible
  • Plan your meals and reduce waste
  • Visit Food Savvy's website for food waste reduction tips
  • Try growing your own fruit and vegetables

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Consider your travel plans

  • Reduce single occupancy car journeys and try car sharing
  • Cycle or walk locally. Suffolk on Board publish maps of safe cycle routes in Suffolk
  • If you're travelling longer distances, use public transport if you can
  • If you're replacing your car, consider an electric or hybrid vehicle
  • Reduce your air travel

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Get involved in your community

Communities within our district have been helping to combat climate change for years.

Some community action groups, led by volunteers, will work alongside us, as well as businesses and environmental organisations, to address the climate emergency.

Groups achieve this via different projects.

You and your community group could inspire residents to:

  • set up a transition movement in your town or parish
  • run litter picks
  • seek low-waste, zero-waste, or product refill shopping options in the area - and encourage local vendors to offer these options
  • gather excess fruit from village trees to distribute or process
  • start community farms, gardens or orchards
  • organise regular swap-and-mend events, or a swishing event to swap unwanted clothes
  • plant up community open spaces for wildflowers - and encourage pollinators
  • ask us to manage a roadside verge or public open space in your community, in a way that encourages wildlife

If your group has just been set up – or you are looking to expand your existing group – the Suffolk Climate Change Partnership have put together guidance for community environmental groups. The guidance covers how to get people interested, the types of governance structures you might consider, and examples of activities you could organise.

More information on Community Energy

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Community Energy Groups in our districts

Suffolk Climate Change Partnership (SCCP) are currently working with Community Energy South to deliver the Community Energy Pathways programme. This programme offers local Community Energy Groups mentoring, businesses planning, project development support, fundraising, governance advice, networking and links to other projects.

The Community Energy Pathway Programme supports Suffolk to achieve Net Zero by inspiring and motivating local climate action. The scheme seeks to establish a thriving community energy network in the county. 

There are currently four Community Energy Groups on the Pathways Programme in the districts of Babergh and Mid Suffolk:

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