Nature and Climate Emergency Strategy 2026 - 2040 Consultation
Forest of Dean District Council (FoDDC) has launched a public consultation to seek feedback on a new ‘Nature and Climate Emergency Strategy 2026-2040’.
Take part in our Nature and Climate ConsultationThis consultation runs from 23 March 2026 to 4 May 2026
Why do we need a new strategy and action plan for our District?
In response to the twin challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change, Forest of Dean District Council declared Nature and Climate Emergencies in 2018 with a Climate Emergency Strategy and Action Plan following in 2022. The new Nature and Climate Emergency Strategy will supersede this.
The nature picture
The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world-ranked among the bottom 10% globally and the worst-performing nation in the G7 for biodiversity loss. According to the 2023 State of Nature report, the abundance of UK species has fallen by 19% since 1970, and 16% of species are now at risk of extinction.
These national trends are mirrored locally within the Forest of Dean. Although the district still benefits from extensive ancient woodland, many of its characteristic habitats - including species-rich grasslands, wet woodlands and water-course corridors have undergone significant decline over the past century. As a result, many local species including woodland and farmland birds, bats and invertebrates now face increasing pressures.
The climate picture
Nature and climate change are connected in many ways with climate change being one of the key threats to nature in our district, whether that is through higher summer temperatures, drought, extreme rainfall or enabling invasive species to take hold locally. In addition, these impacts are increasingly being felt by residents, local businesses and visitors to the area.
Year on year, UK climate records continue to be broken, with provisional Met Office data suggesting that for England, 2025 was the warmest and sunniest year on record. Locally, Storm Bert in November 2024 resulted in significant damage in Lydney, whilst a year later in nearby Monmouth, Storm Claudia led to the town’s worst flooding in living memory.
Since the Forest of Dean District Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2018 district wide greenhouse gas emissions have been cut by over 20%, with some substantial reductions across a number of sectors, but to achieve our ambition and meet the proposed targets significant changes to our energy, transport, food and waste systems are needed which our new Strategy seeks to address.
Forest of Dean greenhouse gas emissions 2018 - 2023 by sector (kt C02e)
Source: DESNZ UK local authority and regional greenhouse gas emissions statistics: 2005-2023
Benefits of taking action
Taking action to protect nature and the climate can deliver significant benefits and we will seek to highlight and maximise delivery of these. We have identified nine ‘shared-benefits’ of nature and climate action.
- Building strong communities
- Protecting nature (via climate action)
- Creating jobs and skills
- Easing cost of living pressures
- Improving physical and mental health
- Improving safety and comfort in homes
- Making travel easier
- Promoting a fairer society
- Reducing pollution
How can you help?
Our consultation survey is seeking feedback on the following;
- Proposed targets for nature recovery, climate change mitigation (limiting green-house gas emissions or other actions to remove emissions), climate change adaptation (managing the risks and effects of unavoidable climate change) and waste reduction in the district.
- Principles that we suggest are followed by everyone helping to deliver the strategy and associated action plans.
- Suggested Aims and Actions within eight core Themes*. These are;
*We are currently reviewing our Sustainable Economy Strategy. On completion of this review, relevant actions will be referenced within the Nature and Climate Emergency strategy.
Cross-cutting themes
We have also considered some cross cutting themes within each core theme which are:
- Adaptation (to the impact of climate change)
- Community (equitable engagement and involvement)
- Knowledge, Skills and Experience (to fill in gaps and provide opportunities)
We have also considered how this strategy could align the the Forest of Dean Biosphere application.
How actions are prioritised
Each Action has a priority assigned to it (priority 1 is the highest priority). Prioritisation has been assessed on a combination of impact and complexity to deliver. A priority 1 status may also be because the action has time near-term constraints to deliver (e.g. it is related to current work like the Local Plan) or that significant commitments have already been made to delivery. We envisage that most actions should be delivered within five years.
We have also developed a set of internal council actions that will feature within the strategy. We are not seeking feedback on these.
Take part in the consultation
You can feedback on as many of the Themes, Aims and Actions as you feel happy to.
Importantly, we are also keen to hear if you or your organisation is currently contributing to an aim or action or could do so in the future.
Take part in our Nature and Climate consultationDrop-in sessions
If you’d like to discuss the proposals with us in person, please do come along to one of our drop-in sessions.
All sessions are 5.30pm to 7.30pm.
- Monday 13 April - Forest of Dean District Council Office, High St, Coleford GL16 8HG
- Wednesday 15 April - Cinderford Town Council Offices, 6 Belle Vue Rd, Cinderford GL14 2AB
- Monday 20 April - Lydney Youth & Community Centre, Naas Ln, Lydney GL15 5AT
- Tuesday 21 April - Newent Community Pavilion, Newent GL18 1QA
Stay informed
You can keep in touch with progress in launching and delivering the strategy by signing up to the District Council’s ‘Nature and Climate Action Newsletter’.
If you have any questions in relation to the consultation, please email climate.action@fdean.gov.uk