Warwickshire County Council's Path to Net Zero: A Commitment to Sustainability 

As a large employer in the region, Warwickshire County Council understands the critical importance of achieving Net Zero. Climate change poses a significant challenge to our way of life, and the longer we wait, the more costly and disruptive the consequences will be. That’s why we are taking decisive action, not just to reduce our own carbon footprint, but to help businesses across Warwickshire follow suit. 

To lead by example, we have set out our Sustainable Futures Strategy, aiming to become a Net Zero organisation by 2030. This is a bold target and achieving it will require substantial changes in how we operate. Our buildings and transport are two major contributors to our carbon emissions, but we also recognise the roles that waste management, and the stewardship of our natural assets play in this journey.  

To deliver on this plan, we have established a dedicated Sustainability team, led by Head of Climate Change and Sustainability, Sarah Stear. They are a small but passionate group, whose role is to educate, inspire, encourage, support, and advise teams across the Council. This ensures that every part of the organisation is contributing to the Net Zero mission. 

Sarah explains: “Our team works with all departments of Warwickshire County Council to advise them on how they can reduce carbon use, as well as working with specialists such as our Ecology, Historic Environment and Landscape teams on projects like biodiversity net gain.  

“We are lucky that there is already a lot of interest in this very important subject, so we are largely pushing at open doors. The challenge is resources, but our behavioural change work has started through by rolling out a carbon literacy programme to staff.  Like any other organisation, whether it is in the private or public sector, we’re looking at everything we do through a new sustainability lens. This includes thinking about what skills we’ll need in the future as well as our contracts and procurement activities. 

Meet the Sustainability Team: 

Sarah Stear – Head of Climate Change and Sustainability 

I speak to people…the main thing I do is get other people to do stuff! The Council’s sustainability strategy is so cross-cutting across the organisation, it literally touches every different bit of it. 

I help people, internally and externally, to understand what we are trying to do and, more importantly, how delivering these things together will bring mutual benefit. It is a question of working out how we can work together most efficiently as businesses or as partners, Warwickshire-wide. As in so many areas of life, the way forward is about making connections.    

Matt Whitehead – Professional Lead: Sustainable Futures Strategy 

I helped put together Warwickshire County Council's Sustainable Futures Strategy and now lead on delivering it, provide advice to help teams across the council reach their carbon reduction targets. It covers everything from transport and energy to waste, biodiversity, and building sustainable communities. I also recently completed the council’s climate change adaptation plan, which will help Warwickshire become more resilient to future challenges. 

Harriet Masters – Funding Manager for Sustainability Futures 

“My primary purpose is to identify and secure external grant funding to decarbonise our estate and fund other projects. I also support others, including parish and district councils and community groups, to access funding too. 

My focus has always been on the intersection of people, place, and environment, ensuring that projects and policies deliver co-benefits for both communities and businesses.”  

Becky Sarchet – Sustainable Futures Delivery Lead 

My role is to oversee and keep track of the whole programme of work for the Sustainable Futures and Climate Change team, ensuring we are delivering what we have said we would deliver within the Sustainable Futures Strategy.  

Because so much of what we’re trying to achieve requires people to think and behave differently, I’m also particularly focused on behaviour change, communication and engagement. My goal is to bring people on the ‘climate change journey’ and enable them to make a difference, whether they are part of the council itself, or part of our wider community.   

Arfa Shahid – Climate Adaptation Lead 

I develop our climate adaptation policy and work closely with different departments across the council to create adaptation plans. Our mission is to make the council more climate-resilient, ensuring that our services are prepared for the challenges of the future. This includes working with critical services to ensure they can operate effectively in the face of climate change. 

Part of my role is also working with partners, from our district and borough councils to organisations like Defra, the British Standards Institution, the West Midlands Combined Authority, and the Environment Agency, to share our progress and learn from what others are doing. It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of this collaborative effort, and to see the positive changes happening around us." 

Recognising that the challenge doesn’t stop with our organisation, this team is helping us not only deliver on our internal sustainability goals, but also to support businesses across Warwickshire to do the same. As part of the WCC commitment to help the entire county achieve Net Zero by 2050, we are supporting businesses in reducing their emissions, improving sustainability practices, and contributing to the overall health of Warwickshire’s economy and environment. 

As Sarah says: “The plans and bids we have in place to start various projects to expand our work beyond the Council to the wider county are just as important. Offering guidance to Warwickshire businesses, large and small, and supporting them on their own journey is critical to delivering on our ambitions.” 

So whether it’s through carbon reduction, waste management, biodiversity, or simply rethinking how we operate, sustainability is not just a buzzword – it’s the future. We invite all businesses across the county to join us in this crucial journey toward a sustainable, Net Zero Warwickshire. Please contact us on climateemergency@warwickshire.gov.uk