Council foreword
Councillor Munir Ahmed
Welcome to our 'Environment Strategy; Everyday, Life'. The goal of this strategy is to deliver a high-level framework, outlining our district's ambitious vision for greater action on environmental issues.
Since declaring a Climate Emergency in 2019, we have taken important steps on our journey to delivering climate action, to become Net Zero and Climate Ready by 2038. Despite this, we recognise that our ambitions for Kirklees need to go beyond addressing the climate emergency. We need to focus just as strongly on broader environmental issues; helping to address the ecological and the climate emergency, whilst also generating benefits and improved outcomes for our residents and our places.
The environment underpins everything we do. Without a thriving healthy environment, all the other plans we have for a better future for Kirklees cannot succeed. Our collective vision is to make sure the environment is a priority, when decisions both big and small are made.
By taking action on the environment, we will generate broader benefits for our places and people: improving our health and wellbeing, stimulating sustainable economic development, and creating a more inclusive society. This strategy is for all.
Co-designed with people who live, work and study in Kirklees, this strategy becomes the Council's fourth top-tier strategy, giving the planet a seat at the table and a platform to coordinate existing and encourage new, innovative environmental work across the district. Through our co-design journey, the structure of this strategy has evolved to become a reflection of the ambition, hope and expectation of people, organisations, and business across Kirklees.
A partnership at its core and recognising that we all have a part to play, we have developed a partnership pledge. Open to all people, organisations, and businesses across Kirklees to sign up and pledge their support to deliver our ambitious vision for a greener Kirklees. I invite you to join us on this journey, pledge your support to help achieve our vision and ambition for the environment in Kirklees. Together we can make a difference.
Councillor Munir Ahmed, Cabinet Member - Environment and Highways