Policy and Programmes

Climate and Environment

Chair of Climate Forum East

Cllr Peter Schwier

Member for Environment, Waste Reduction and Recycling at Essex County Council

Lead Chief Executive for Climate Forum East

Doug Wilkinson

Chief Executive of Maldon District Council

Climate Forum East, established in January 2022, is responsible for providing support for the 50 local authorities across the East of England, and the region as a whole, in achieving their net zero and other climate change related targets.

LGE facilitates the Forum, which operates through a regional delivery model and 12-month action plan that is implemented through three delivery groups:

  • Climate Adaptation and Resilience – chaired by Emily Bolton, Climate Change Strategy Manager – Cambridgeshire County Council
  • Funding and Resourcing – chaired by Stephen Mooring, Head of Sustainability – Central Bedfordshire Council
  • Advocacy and Lobbying – chaired by Adam Thorp, Director of Policy and Corporate Services – LGE

A supporting action plan has been created aiming to provide regional-level support for local authorities in achieving their climate change related targets, adding real value to the work already being undertaken locally and reducing duplication.

Climate Risk and Adaptation - The Case for Change

Having convened the first Climate Adaptation and Resilience group, it emerged that officers do not have the same understanding of what the climate risks are. In response, Emily Bolton has written a paper to ensure there is a clear understanding of the regional narrative and what the risks and issues are. This will build a collective understanding of what is meant by climate risk and adaptation. This paper identifies risks and issues through the lens of national policy. If climate risk is not managed in the East of England, what does that mean for agriculture, growth and development in reaching climate goals? Therefore Emily has developed this paper to build a case for investment in our region. Read Emily's paper below: