Norfolk Leading the Way on Climate Action and Resilience

Norfolk County Council has been recognised as one of the top-performing local authorities in the UK for climate action; ranked third among all county councils nationwide.

This impressive achievement comes from the latest Climate Action Scorecards, an independent assessment by Climate Emergency UK. The scorecard evaluates councils across a range of environmental priorities, including clean energy, sustainable transport and preparation for climate impacts.

What does this mean for Norfolk residents?

It means visible change in communities, from quieter, cleaner electric buses and modern LED streetlights to tree planting and solar panels on public buildings. It is making a measurable difference as the council has cut its carbon emissions by an incredible 61% since 2016/17.

Some of the standout achievements include:

• All council buildings run on 100% green electricity
• Over 600,000 trees planted so far: on the way to the 1 Million target
• 70 electric buses introduced in Norwich, reducing emissions and improving air quality
• Solar panels generating 2% of council building electricity needs
• Over 1 million kWh saved each year from new energy-efficient LED street lighting

Preparing for a Changing Climate

Alongside cutting carbon, Norfolk County Council is strengthening the county’s climate resilience, taking practical steps to protect communities from flooding, erosion and extreme weather.

A key part of this work is through the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance (NSFA) , established in 2021. This partnership brings together over 20 organisations, including the Environment Agency, Anglian Water and local councils, to improve how flood risks are managed across the county.

The NSFA has already delivered:

• A single point of contact for residents to report flooding
• On-the-ground flood prevention projects in places like Shimpling, Heacham and Gorleston
• Improved coordination across agencies to speed up responses and strengthen long-term defences

Investing in Emergency Readiness

Norfolk firefighters now have specialist PPE and four new 4x4 vehicles equipped with misting units to help tackle wildfires and respond to extreme weather events more effectively.

“We’re proud that these efforts are making a real difference in people’s lives,” said Cllr James Bensly, Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste. “From cleaner air and safer roads to better protection from floods, our climate action is about more than targets—it’s about building a greener, more resilient Norfolk for everyone.”

You can explore the full Climate Action Scorecard results here.