Action to tackle climate change across Cumbria is led by a partnership of more than eighty organisations from all different walks of life in the county.
To work towards a net zero carbon county by 2037 with improved quality of life, people living in balance with their environment and a sustainable low carbon economy.
The partnership is working towards the goal of net zero carbon emissions in Cumbria by 2037, while ensuring that Cumbria benefits from the opportunities this transition brings.
Through collaboration and a shared commitment, its purpose is to support a programme of action that will enable Cumbria to become a net zero carbon county and to mitigate the impacts of climate change already being experienced. This collective partnership approach can achieve greater impact and progress more quickly than by acting alone, combining expertise, influence and resources to drive countywide change.
The partnership’s key aims and objectives are to:
✔️ Build on the Emissions Reduction Action Plans to support practical action, from early ideas through to delivery, to reduce carbon emissions to reach net zero by 2037.
✔️ Broaden and deepen engagement facilitating a strong community and youth voice, creating opportunities for joint working and co-designed solutions with communities, decision-making bodies and other partners.
✔️ Connect current climate activity across the county and identify opportunities for collaboration, funding and influence to create greater collective impact.
✔️ Gather insight and share knowledge between partners.
✔️ Identify and support leads to take forward a sector-based programme of carbon reduction action.
✔️ Use clear communication channels to link the work of the ZCCP with other groups, forums and partnership boards across the county to facilitate co-ordinated action.
✔️ Support equitable climate action that enables communities to drive the change needed and ensure that any transition is just and fair.
✔️ Measure the impact on emissions reduction, engagement, policy change and general direction of travel.
✔️ Create a lasting project legacy by attracting new funds, redirecting existing funding, and influencing decision/policy-making.
✔️ Remain independent and non-party political.
Two of the partnership’s greatest strengths are its diversity and that it is community led. There are representatives from many different walks of life including local authorities, local sustainability groups, schools, the farming sector, NHS, police, Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), businesses, national parks, Natural England, the Environment Agency, Electricity North West, United Utilities and more.
The partnership is currently jointly chaired by Karen Mitchell (Chief Executive of Futureproof Cumbria) and David F Murphy (Associate Professor of Sustainability & Collaborative Leadership and Academic Lead of the Initiative for Leadership & Sustainability, University of Cumbria), and is managed by Michael Robinson. Two full partnership meetings are held each year, including the hugely successful annual Zero Carbon Cumbria Summit.
The Strategic Oversight Board, chaired by Sarah Swindley, steers the work of the Partnership and meets on a quarterly basis. The Board continues to adapt towards wider governance changes and seeks strong representation and presence within wider partnerships, including the work of the Cumbria Combined Authority.
The full Partnership meets twice a year. There is also a quarterly meeting of the Strategic Oversight Board. The sector groups each set their own meeting schedules, to best suit their work.
The main way that the partnership will drive change is through its working groups, which focus on the main sources of emissions in Cumbria. There are four groups up and running now, and new groups may be formed to focus on other themes.
To get involved and find out more about the Partnership, please contact Partnership Manager, Michael Robinson.