Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Climate Action Plan
Introduction
Appendix 1 to LCCC Sustainability Strategy 2025 – 2029
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has developed a Climate Action Plan (CAP) that sets out the steps to be taken by the council that will guide all council service unit actions towards the goal of becoming a net zero, resilient council by 2050.
Council Officers have identified, prioritised and refined climate actions for the CAP through a series of workshops and technical meetings since May 2022.
Actions have been cross referenced against our Community Plan, Local Development Plan and Corporate Plan and have been set out under six action areas identified in LCCCs Sustainability Strategy.
Action areas
1. Citizen engagement and leadership
How we engage and communicate with our citizens to promote and encourage a more sustainable way of living and working, leading by example as a sustainable organisation.
2. Buildings and energy
The energy we currently use within our estate and functions, the emissions produced from our facilities and the types of energy we will use in the future.
3. Transport
The way we travel and the means we choose to make these journeys for business purposes and to deliver the operational functions of the council.
4. Economy
Our local economy, supply chains and supporting businesses.
5. Waste and resource management
The way we manage our waste and resources from council facilities and operations.
6. Natural environment
How we protect our natural environment and use it to reduce the impacts of climate change.
The Climate Action Plan is a live document and will be reviewed, updated and reported on annually. This annual assessment will enable us to monitor progress and adapt or amend actions where appropriate to ensure continual advances towards the interim and eventual 2050 targets on net zero.
Action area 1: Citizen engagement and leadership
How we engage and communicate with our citizens to promote and encourage a more sustainable way of living and working, leading by example as a sustainable organisation.
Definition of term:
- Short term = up to 1 year
- Medium term = 1 to 5 years
- Longer term = 6+ years
| Term | Action | Performance Measure | Responsible Officer (SRO) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Short term | Ongoing review of our Climate Action Plan | Annual reporting | Head of Service (HoS) Building Control & Sustainability |
| 2 | Short term | Increase significance of sustainability as part of committee reports | Committee report templates to be updated to include sustainability screening consideration | HoS Building Control & Sustainability |
| 3 | Short term | Embed sustainability in council operations and functions by adopting a Sustainability Policy | Adoption of a Sustainability Policy | HoS Building Control & Sustainability |
| 4 | Medium term | Develop a Sustainability Screening Tool to supplement the Sustainability Policy. The tool will allow all council policies, projects and plans to be screened for sustainability consideration | # of projects screened for sustainability | HoS Building Control & Sustainability |
| 5 | Short term | Encourage and facilitate cross departmental collaboration, working towards sustainability goals through an officer 'Sustainability Champions Group' |
# meetings of sustainability champions Agree a Terms of Reference |
HoS Building Control & Sustainability |
| 6 | Medium term | Provide awareness training and resources for use by staff, elected members and the public |
# of initiatives to promote sustainability among staff members, elected members and the public # of social media, communications Development of an online Sustainability Learning Module for staff. |
HoS Building Control & Sustainability |
| 7 | Medium term | Engage with citizens to raise awareness of 'how to be sustainable'. Highlight the benefits on people and the planet and shape attitudes of the future |
# of people participating in relevant educational events # of events # of social media, communications |
HoS Waste & Operational Services HoS Parks & Amenities |
| 8 | Medium term |
Support citizen led climate initiatives and encourage uptake such as litter campaigns |
% increase in existing and new initiatives and campaigns | All service units |
| 9 | Short/Medium term | Introduce and monitor digital innovations to replace outdated systems with modern alternatives such as TechOne, ITrent, Placecube, Smartsheet, Microsoft365 including apps such as Teams and Power BI, DecisionTime | # staff trained to use new systems | HoS Portfolio, IT and Commercialisation |
| 10 | Short/Medium term | Make provision to implement Council actions required of the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 and The Climate Change (Reporting Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 Climate Change Mitigation Report submitted by 31st October 2025 | Climate Change Adaptation Report submitted by 31st March 2026 | HoS Building Control & Sustainability |
| 11 | Longer term | Develop a cultural shift and embed sustainability into how we deliver everyday council functions |
% staff participating in sustainability education % of energy reduction in council buildings |
All service units |
| 12 | Short term | Encourage all Council events to be sustainably friendly | # sustainability initiatives enabling public participation | All service units |
| 13 | Medium term | Ensure all planning and development proposals are considered against the relevant legislation, SPPS and the Local Development Plan |
# of planning decisions reviewed on an annual basis Local Development Plan 5-year review |
HoS Planning & Capital Development |
Action area 2: Buildings and energy
The energy we currently use within our estate and functions, the emissions produced from our facilities and the types of energy we will use in the future.
Definition of term:
- Short term = up to 1 year
- Medium term = 1 to 5 years
- Longer term = 6+ years
| Term | Action | Performance Measure | Responsible Officer (SRO | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Short term | Establish a 2023/2024 GHG emissions baseline for council estate and functions | Annual tracking and reporting of LCCC GHG emissions (Scope 1 and Scope2) | Head of Service (HoS) Building Control & Sustainability |
| 2 | Short term | Develop a mechanism to begin to record Scope 3 GHG emissions | Annual review and reporting | HoS Building Control & Sustainability |
| 3 | Short term | Raise staff awareness on energy use and its impact | % of staff receiving energy communications or training and PR to raise awareness of energy use issues | HoS Building Control & Sustainability |
| 4 | Short term | Establish a baseline of council’s energy usage (2024/2025) | Production of a baseline of energy use across council facilities | HoS Building Control & Sustainability |
| 5 | Short term | Invest in a Council Feasibility Study to advise on utility optimisation and low/ zero energy options | Completion of report & recommendations to CMT |
HoS Building Control & Sustainability
|
| 6 | Medium term | Develop the recommendations of the Feasibility Study to deliver emissions reductions and utility savings | # recommendations progressed |
HoS Building Control & Sustainability HoS Assets HoS Planning and Capital Development HoS Waste and Operational Services |
| 7 | Medium term | Set council carbon reduction targets to reduce energy use and costs | # reduction targets set and monitored | HoS Building Control & Sustainability |
| 8 | Longer term | Continue to contribute to collaborative initiatives like the EV consortium to assist the drive to net zero | # of energy projects with partner organisations | HoS Economic Development |
| 9 | Short term | Continue to enforce Energy Performance of Buildings legislation requiring energy information to be made available to prospective property purchasers | # of regulatory checks carried out | HoS Building Control & Sustainability |
| 10 | Medium term | Reduce dependency on fossil fuels by considering renewables in energy contracts | % of energy from renewable sources | HoS Assets |
| 11 | Medium term | Establish water consumption baseline for all facilities | Water consumption baseline created | HoS Building Control & Sustainability |
| 12 | Medium term | Set water consumption reduction targets | % reduction target set for water use | HoS Building Control & Sustainability |
| 13 | Medium term | Replace Dundonald International Ice Bowl with a more efficient building | Completion of new Dundonald International Ice Bowl build to BREEAM very good standard | HoS Planning and Capital Development |
| 14 | Medium term | Consider sustainability and minimum energy efficiency standards for all relevant capital projects | # capital projects meeting minimum energy efficiency standard | HoS Planning and Capital Development |
| 15 | Short term | Produce an Assets Management / Estates Strategy | Production of a strategy | HoS Assets |
| 16 | Short term | Include the relevant recommendations of the 2024 Sustainable, low and zero carbon generating technology feasibility study in the Assets Management/Estates Strategy | Recommendations included in the Assets Management / Estates Strategy | HoS Assets |
Action area 3: Transport
The way we travel and the means we choose to make these journeys for business purposes and to deliver the operational functions of the council.
Definition of term:
- Short term = up to 1 year
- Medium term = 1 to 5 years
- Longer term = 6+ years
| Term | Action | Performance Measure | Responsible Officer (SRO | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Short term | Create/promote/engage with programmes like the Active Travel Challenge in partnership with Translink, Sustrans and other key stakeholders | % of engagement in active travel initiatives through existing platforms | Head of Service (HoS) Communities |
| 2 | Short term |
Continue to facilitate Cycle to Work scheme |
# of staff applying for the scheme # promotions of the scheme |
HoS Human Resources and Organisation Development |
| 3 | Medium term | Encourage walking, cycling and safe active travel through the Active Travel Plan | # active travel routes in LCCC area | HoS Communities |
| 4 | Short term | Include promotion of active travel and delivery of a variety of types of high-quality green spaces in public realm improvements | # of green spaces included in public realm work | HoS Communities |
| 5 | Medium term |
Adopt a place-based approach which prioritises measures to reduce the need to travel and encourages people to shift to more active, public and shared modes of transport |
% increase in park and ride areas # cycle hubs installed |
HoS Communities |
| 6 | Medium term | Explore the installation of electric bike hub in the Urban Centres, encourage City Centre businesses to use electric bike delivery services | # of grant schemes to encourage companies to invest in e-cargo bikes |
HoS Economic Development |
| 7 | Longer term | Develop a Fleet Strategy that transitions to cleaner fuels and alternative technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions | % of council fleet using clean fuel or alternative technologies | HoS Waste & Operational Services |
| 8 | Short term | Engage with DfI through the Transport Sectoral Plan (Climate Change Act) with an aim of decarbonising the council fleet | # engagement opportunities participated in with DfI | HoS Waste & Operational Services |
| 9 | Medium term | Continue partnership working to encourage the establishment of EV networks across the council area | % of council owned carparks with EV charge points |
HoS Economic Development HoS Assets Hos Environmental Health |
Action area 4: Economy
Our local economy, supply chains and supporting businesses.
Definition of term:
- Short term = up to 1 year
- Medium term = 1 to 5 years
- Longer term = 6+ years
| Term | Action | Performance Measure | Responsible Officer (SRO | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medium term | Develop a Sustainable Procurement Framework | Sustainable procurement framework developed | Head of Service (HoS) Assets |
| 2 | Medium term | Support SME's in understanding sustainable practices through green economy initiatives, events, mentoring/ advice, while encouraging collaboration with local businesses and organisations to promote sustainable growth/innovation | # of businesses and organisations participating |
HoS Economic Development |
| 3 | Medium term | Promote small grant provision from TRPSI to encourage sustainability of rural micro-businesses | # businesses supported | HoS Economic Development |
| 4 | Short term | Promote shopping locally and sustainably | # opportunities provided for local businesses to promote their business and encourage shoppers to support local through social media and business networks | HoS Economic Development |
| 5 | Medium term | Promote active travel within our city centre and connect to green spaces | Delivery of project opportunities from the City Centre Orientation and Walkability Strategy | HoS Economic Development |
| 6 | Short term | Support sustainable tourism initiatives through a Tourism Strategy | Launch Tourism Strategy | HoS Economic Development |
Action area 5: Waste and resource management
The way we manage our waste and resources from council facilities and operations.
Definition of term:
- Short term = up to 1 year
- Medium term = 1 to 5 years
- Longer term = 6+ years
| Term | Action | Performance Measure | Responsible Officer (SRO | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Short term | Adopt and implement a LCCC Digital Strategy including digital depot project | Digital Strategy endorsed by elected members | Head of Service (HoS) Portfolio, IT and Commercialisation |
| 2 | Medium term |
Digitise council paper forms that are in use across all units. Promote behavioural change, education and training to move to digital forms |
# forms replaced with digital version |
HoS Portfolio, IT and Commercialisation HoS Building Control & Sustainability |
| 3 | Medium term | Consider the NI Circular Economy Policy for the council | % of staff trained in circular thinking | HoS Waste & Operational Services |
| 4 | Medium term | Promote the reduction of single-use plastic, and tackle food waste as critical areas for improvement. Continue to promote reuse and refill initiatives | # of initiatives to promote awareness on these topics and provide information on alternatives to single use plastics | HoS Waste & Operational Services |
| 5 | Short term | Work to achieve the 55% recycling rate of municipal waste within the Waste (Circular Economy) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 – Short Term (by 2025) |
Annual measurement of council recycling rate Municipal waste recycling rate |
HoS Waste & Operational Services |
| 6 | Medium term | Work to achieve 60-65% targets of the recycling rate of municipal waste within the Waste (Circular Economy) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2020 – Medium Term (by 2030-2035) |
Annual measurement of council recycling rate Municipal waste recycling rate |
HoS Waste & Operational Services |
| 7 | Longer term |
Meet the Climate Change Act Target of at least 70% of waste to be recycled by 2030 |
Annual measurement of council recycling rate Municipal waste recycling rate |
HoS Waste & Operational Services |
| 8 | Longer term |
Manage construction waste of relevant capital projects based on Whole Life-cycle Assessment and dispose of material through sustainable design and planning to reduce the environmental impact of new developments |
% of recycled and reused construction waste in LCCC projects # capital projects screened for sustainability |
HoS Planning & Capital Development |
| 9 | Short term | Develop services to facilitate re-use or support existing re-use organisations and community groups to deliver their activities. Consider re-use opportunities at Household Recycling Centres | # reuse projects promoted by council | HoS Waste & Operational Services |
| 10 | Short term | Develop a promotional materials register and encourage all council departments to move to sustainable promotional items | Completed log of promotional materials by all departments to support the development of a sustainable procurement strategy/policy | HoS Waste & Operational Services |
| 11 | Medium term | Following the outcome of DAERA consultation develop a harmonised kerbside waste collection model to provide a kerbside glass collection service to 100% of households | % households provided with a kerbside glass collection service | HoS Waste & Operational Services |
| 12 | Medium term | Make improvements to Household Recycling Centres to increase the scope of materials accepted for recycling | # new material types accepted for recycling | HoS Waste & Operational Services |
| 13 | Short term | Explore with existing service providers how waste is managed on council premises | Completed log of waste management arrangements by existing service providers | HoS responsible for facilities |
| 14 | Longer term | Meet the Circular Economy Package target of no more than 10% of municipal waste to be landfilled by 2035 through implementation of a new waste treatment contract |
Annual measurement of council landfill rate Municipal waste recycling rate |
HoS responsible for facilities |
| 15 | Longer term | Develop a Fleet Strategy that provides the opportunity to transition to cleaner fuels and alternative technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions | % of council fleet using clean fuel or alternative technologies annually | HoS Waste & Operational Services |
Action area 6: Natural environment
How we protect our natural environment and use it to reduce the impacts of climate change.
Definition of term:
- Short term = up to 1 year
- Medium term = 1 to 5 years
- Longer term = 6+ years
| Term | Action | Performance Measure | Responsible Officer (SRO | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Short term | Continue to implement measures to improve air quality, reduce air pollution and promote cleaner air initiatives |
% increase update in air quality education initiative ‘Turn your engine off – prevent the cough’ Annual mean concentration of nitrogen dioxide, PM10 and sulphur dioxide remain below the air quality objective. 95% data capture of all air quality data |
Head of Service (HoS) Environmental Health |
| 2 | Medium term | Implement the ‘Journey to Sustainability’ Project in conjunction with the Woodland Trust | # of trees grown/planted per annum | HoS Parks & Amenities |
| 3 | Medium term | Protect and restore council’s woodlands | # of woodland sites restored | HoS Parks & Amenities |
| 4 | Medium term |
Ongoing review of the council's Open Space Strategy 2022-2026
|
Continued review | HoS Parks & Amenities |
| 5 | Medium term | Carry out a feasibility study and establish the most sustainably advantageous use of the lands associated with closed landfilled sites | Completion of feasibility study | HoS Building Control & Sustainability |
| 6 | Medium term Continue to implement the Local Biodiversity Action Plan | # of community engagement initiatives to promote climate mitigation and adaptation | HoS Parks & Amenities | |
| 7 | Medium term | Development on floodplains only by exception through the application of council policies |
% of flood risk reduction # of floodplains protection and restorations - ongoing |
HoS Planning & Capital Development |
| 8 | Medium term | Lagan Valley Regional Park – strategy review | # of research and education initiatives on the area’s biodiversity and heritage | HoS Parks & Amenities |
| 9 | Medium term | Continue to implement the council's Tree and Woodland Strategy | # actions from strategy achieved | HoS Parks & Amenities |
| 10 | Medium term | Carry out a feasibility study and establish the most sustainably advantageous use of council land | Completion of feasibility study | HoS Building Control & Sustainability |
| 11 | Medium term | Establish a Greenway Framework to enable council to secure funding opportunities where available | Delivery of Greenway Framework | HoS Economic Development |