For the past two years, a range of organisations in Torbay have been working together – via the Torbay Climate Partnership – to develop a coordinated local approach to tackling climate change.
The Greener Way For Our Bay’ is Torbay Climate Partnership’s framework and action plan which aims to reduce the Bay’s carbon emissions and prepare for a changing climate.
It strikes a balance between immediate actions and long-term strategies, recognising that some measures can be implemented swiftly, while others require careful planning and resources. The Framework sets a direction for the long haul, with a series of short-term action plans (three-year plans) to guide Torbay through incremental steps towards reaching the national 2050 net-zero target.
The plan covers 10 key things to work towards:
-
Help more people live and work in homes and buildings that are energy efficient.
-
Make sustainable transport and public transport more accessible and affordable.
-
Ensure that roads and paths are safer and more accessible for cyclists and walkers.
-
Reduce waste and increase recycling.
-
Enjoy and protect our marine and natural environment.
-
Help green our businesses and create new jobs with the environment at their heart.
-
Ensure the community is at the heart of local action.
-
Monitor progress and set up initiatives that celebrate success.
-
Help everyone understand why change is needed and how sustainable choices will make a difference.
-
Work with nature and the local community to prepare for a changing climate.
The Greener Way For Our Bay Framework and Action Plan was developed in response to two public consultations, a series of climate conversations and a comprehensive engagement programme in 2023 and 2024.