Climate Action

This topic page focuses on our Climate Action Charter  (currently being refreshed in 2025/26). It includes an action plan to support partners develop their own actions to address climate change and prepare for zero carbon. Initially this focused on two key areas:

• Implementing relevant recommendations from the Essex Green Skills Infrastructure Review.
• Developing steps to prepare partners for the new Homes and Buildings Standard in 2025.

The Essex Climate Action Commission is working with the Essex Developers’ Group on actions that will take forward the principles of the Charter.  These include:

Net Zero Carbon Show Home – to include key features of a net zero carbon home such as a renewable heating source (not using fossil fuels) and application of very high building fabric standards.

Case Studies – identification of exemplar fossil fuel free developments undertaken by Essex developers either in the County or elsewhere to demonstrate incorporation of energy and water efficiency solutions to the development as a whole or to buildings.

Sponsorship of Apprenticeships – Design and Green Construction Skills Training apprenticeships in key ‘green’ skills areas from design to construction.

Essex Housing Awards 2025 – includes a dedicated award for Climate Action / Zero Carbon / Decarbonization / Retrofit.

Climate Change Sustainability Statement – in consultation with the Developers Group that will act as a Climate Change response checklist of features that can be included when designing a layout, green and blue infrastructure, and buildings.

Supporting the Supply Chain and the Work of Smaller Developers – next step will be to work with developers as well as businesses and training providers to ensure that the skills and goods supply chains can be supported in Essex to work towards sustainable construction, and climate resilient development.

Climate Action Advice packs for residents, businesses and schools – the business pack has been specifically developed to help SME businesses access information and advice.

Further details are set out in the Charter, see page 9.

A questionnaire was undertaken in November 2022 with partners to see what progress has been made against the actions and to identify where further support might be needed. Results of the survey and some early analysis can be found here.

Important updates

The Climate Action Charter is currently being refreshed in 2025/26. the latest review update can be found here.

The Essex Green Skills Hub is a collaborative strategy led by Essex County Council and partners to equip the county’s workforce and businesses with skills for the transition to a net-zero economy.

Great Start also helps businesses across all sectors to transition towards net zero.

The Operational Energy and Carbon (Net Zero) Planning Policy Statement (October 2025) for Greater Essex sets out Policy GE1: Operational Energy and Carbon (Net Zero) in homes and buildings and is available to download here.

It should be read and implemented alongside the Embodied Carbon and Circular Economy Planning Policy Statement (October 2025) for Greater Essex which sets out Policy GE2: Embodied Carbon and Circular Economy in homes and buildings and is available here.  

The latest policies and evidence base can also be found in the Essex Design Guide:

• Essex Energy and Carbon Evidence page
• Energy & Carbon (Net Zero) policy page
• Essex Embodied Carbon & Circular Economy Policy page

Key information

EDG Climate Action Charter V2 presentation 12 Feb 2025

Advice Packs (Residents, Businesses & Schools) – May 2022

Headline outcomes from Cop26, Glasgow

Essex Climate Action Commission Report: Net Zero – Making Essex Carbon Neutral – July 2021

Case studies

Chelmsford Net Zero Learning Dissemination – November 2022