Flintshire Council reviews it climate change strategy following public engagement

Flintshire Council has completed a major review of its Climate Change Strategy, shaped by feedback from over 400 ‘stakeholders’ including council officers, elected members, young people, and residents.

The process highlighted the need for better public transport, clearer communication, and a stronger focus on community benefits.

The review included extensive consultation with various groups. Senior leaders participated in workshops focused on climate risks and ways to adapt council services.

Public engagement played a significant role, with a survey conducted between August and October 2024 receiving 201 responses.

Eighty-five percent of respondents supported council-led climate action, prioritising improvements to public transport, air quality, and the cost of living.

Young people were a key focus of the consultation.

Feedback from school workshops, including Ysgol Maes Glas, showed that children prioritised “making buildings ready for climate impacts, active travel getting to and from school, better recycling, planting urban trees, and local sustainable food.”

A Young Flintshire event involving 25 participants highlighted similar priorities, including “moving away from fossil fuel heating, public transport, urban trees, local sustainable food, solar/wind on land, and school climate action.”

Public transport emerged as a recurring theme, with the public calling for improved infrastructure and accessibility. Many respondents also emphasised the need for transparency in funding and its impact on council tax.

The consultation identified a need for “more information/education and communication—around climate change, actions, benefits and support to drive acceptance and culture change.”

The findings will shape a revised Climate Change Strategy, which will include updated carbon reduction targets, a climate risk assessment, and clearer timelines for achieving net zero carbon.

Partnerships across North Wales are set to support these efforts, with a regional approach to climate risk assessment already in progress.

A report, by Andrew Farrow, Chief Officer (Planning, Environment & Economy) , states the strategy would focus on aligning climate action with broader community needs.

“Societal benefits—supporting vulnerable people, cost savings, health—should be a clear focus of climate action.”

A report on the Climate Change Strategy will go before the council’s  Climate Change  next week.