Making Devon greener

Climate Change, Environment and Transport

We will continue to work with partners and people in Devon to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the county to net zero.

Climate change

Our planet’s climate is changing and warming at an unprecedented rate. There is indisputable evidence that the majority of this has been caused by human activities, in particular emissions of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and intensive agriculture. This warming is causing more extreme storms, droughts, heat waves, melting ice, ocean acidification and rising sea levels.

In February 2019, the Council declared a Climate Emergency and at the same time committed to collaborating with regional partners to develop a response. DCC led the creation of the Devon Climate Emergency partnership which includes public, private and voluntary organisations.

Following an evidence-led process guided by an independent Net-Zero Task Force, the Devon Carbon Plan was published and endorsed by the Council in August 2022.

The Plan provides a framework for achieving net-zero and contains actions for individuals, organisations, communities and policy makers. It highlights the barriers that need to be overcome, the resources required (whether they are existing or have yet to be allocated) and where collaboration with national government is needed to do so. It divides action into five sectors:

Economy and resources.
Energy supply.
Food, land and sea.
Transport.
The built environment.

Environment

Devon has an amazing diversity of landscapes and wildlife. However, the loss and decline of Devon’s wildlife has accelerated rapidly over the last 50 years and natural resources are damaged.

The Council is the Responsible Authority for the development of the Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy which will provide local planning authorities and developers with information to enhance the planning system, including the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain requirements, and investment in our urban green spaces.

It will guide public and private investment, including through the new Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS). It will support communities and businesses in their actions to protect and enhance Devon’s land and marine environments, and the benefits we gain from them, such as health, access and learning.

Transport

Devon has one of the largest road networks in the country, however investment in our roads has suffered over the last ten years from austerity, the pandemic, cost of living crisis and increasingly severe weather.

The Council has listened to feedback from residents and communities and understands that improvement to our road network is a priority.

The Council is investing an additional £12m in 2024/25 to deal with road repairs such as safety defects but this is insufficient to address all the problems.

An investment plan for Devon’s road network will build on the existing Infrastructure Asset Management Plan to bring together the case for change including benchmarks with other local authorities, the evidence to lobby government and the opportunity to explore different ways of funding the improvements.

Devon’s housing crisis

The Devon Housing Task Force, currently chaired by the Leader of West Devon Borough Council, is tackling the supply and demand side issues contributing to the Devon housing crisis in the social, affordable and private housing markets and considering the potential solutions.

The Devon Housing Commission, chaired by Lord Best, published its report in July 2024. The Commission highlights the problems caused by the availability and unaffordability of housing. It recommends that all local authorities in Devon, with the support of national government, give urgent attention to the need for additional affordable housing in the county.

Low-paid workers cannot afford to live in large areas of Devon, so they are leaving. The lack of vital key workers is a concern, and recruitment challenges are affecting a range of public services including education, health and care.

The shortages of secure, decent homes is leading to hardship for many households; rapidly rising expenditure on unsatisfactory temporary accommodation; the loss from Devon of young people, with consequences for public services and the economy; and extra challenges for hard- pressed care and health services.

How do we perform?

A higher percentage of household waste in Devon is reused, recycled or composted, with a lower percentage sent to landfill, although differences exist at a district level. Mortality attributable to air pollution is also significantly below the national average and the lowest in our near neighbour group. Greenhouse gas emissions however are above the regional and national averages

Whilst fly-tipping is below the national average, rates are rising and large differences exist at a district level. Electric vehicle charging coverage is below the national average and amongst the lowest in our near neighbour group.