Climate change

Local authorities are directly responsible for between two to five per cent of their local area’s emissions. However, councils have many levers that can be used to deliver wider local action to reduce emissions and prepare local areas for a changing climate.

We have already taken several important steps to cut carbon emissions in the borough. We’re improving the energy efficiency of more than 100 homes through a whole house retrofit programme, switching our streetlights to low energy LED bulbs, and supporting local nature recovery through initiatives such as “Trees for Climate”. These actions give us a strong foundation as we continue working towards a greener future for the borough.

The Swindon Plan

In July 2024, the Council approved the Swindon Plan that sets out three long-term missions, including one to build a greener Swindon:

Fully playing our part as a council and a town in combatting climate change. Working with communities to find new ways of doing things that help, not hinder, the natural environment.

The mission is supported by four themes (the dark green layer of the diagram below), which each link to a number of objectives (outer layer):

Theme 1

Leading the way towards a net zero borough by 2050

Objectives

• Engage with residents and businesses to deliver a greener Swindon

Theme 2

Greener planning and transport

Objectives

• Enable a lower carbon Swindon through planning and travel

Theme 3

Protect the environment

Objectives

• Resilience to severe weather and climate change impacts
• Protect and enhance biodiversity

Theme 4

Keep on track for a net zero Council

Objectives

• Reduce carbon from council assets
• Transitioning our fleet and depot to net-zero carbon operations
• Optimising waste management and recycling initiatives

An accompanying performance framework (PDF) sets out the action we will take to progress each objective over the next three years and how we will measure progress.

Decarbonisation Framework

We adopted a Decarbonisation Framework in December 2025. The framework sets out goals and objectives to reduce emissions across both the Council and the wider borough. It provides a clear direction of travel for Swindon, helping us make steady progress towards our net zero goal. 

The five key themes the Decarbonisation Framework cover are:

• energy and buildings
• green spaces
• business
• transport
• health

We are committed to taking local businesses and residents with us on this journey, ensuring they can benefit too, including through lower energy bills and more efficient, resilient buildings.