Published on Friday 20 February 2026
A new report shows the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area is taking a positive step forward on its climate commitments – making sustainable futures more affordable and accessible to communities.
In 2019 BCP Council made a Climate and Ecological Emergency Declaration, pledging to make council operations carbon neutral by 2030, and to work with the wider community to help Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole as an area be carbon neutral by 2045, ahead of the national UK target.
The council is committed to tackling the climate and ecological emergency so that residents in BCP can all enjoy safe, healthy, vibrant lives. Every year the council affirms those commitments by reporting on the progress made.
The council’s sixth annual update (looking back at the year 2024/25) shows the area is ahead of trajectory to achieve targets and outlines the continued and visible climate action taken.
Cllr Andy Hadley, BCP Council Cabinet Member for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, said:
“This report comes at a time when the effects of climate change, especially flooding and heatwaves, are more apparent than ever, impacting the lives of our residents and the work of our organisations and businesses.
“But the encouraging figures in this document, and the good work outlined throughout, shows we are in a stronger position to take the bold steps required to achieve meaningful progress towards our climate targets.”
Key achievements in the report published this week include:
- Greenhouse gas emissions across the wider BCP area have decreased by 18 percent since 2019.
- Emissions from domestic energy use across the wider BCP area have seen a substantial decrease, with levels falling by 21% since 2019.
BCP Council is one of the first two local authorities in the southwest region, alongside Cornwall Council, to complete a Local Area Energy Plan. The plan focusses on securing reliable energy for residents and businesses, reducing carbon emissions, and making sustainability more accessible to communities.
From retrofitting homes with heating solutions and improving insulation, to making electric vehicles more accessible, and encouraging installation of solar panels or using our area’s unique geology as a source to heat buildings – many of the measures in the plan are designed to reduce bills for residents and help with the transition away from gas heating and petrol/diesel vehicles.
Since the last report, the council has:
- Installed solar PV panels at Two Riversmeet Leisure Complex, reducing energy use by an estimated 100,000 kWh each year.
- Built 433 new homes to EPC B and A standards during 2024.
- Installed an additional 130 new fast and rapid EV charging points using the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure funding.
- Completed a project of Peatland restoration at Canford Heath, which has transformed over 37 hectares of land into a thriving wetland habitat – bringing back rare species, reducing wildfire risks and locking away carbon.
- Worked closely with other organisations across BCP to share good practice and incorporate climate action into their plans.
Progress within the council and wider area also listed in the report - includes:
- A decrease of 21 percent in recorded emissions across council services.
- Continued electrification of the council fleet, with a total of 74 Electric Vehicles in BCP livery as of April 2025.
- Emissions dropping by 14% across the BCP Homes housing stock, and other leased council buildings (mainly social housing) have seen emissions drop by 23%.
The council has upcoming work planned to continue this positive progress, this includes:
- Delivering more frequent, reliable, and affordable bus services across BCP, in partnership with Morebus, to make public transport more convenient than ever before.
- Improved walking and cycling options across everyday routes – opening up sustainable transport to more people in our communities.
Cllr Hadley continued: “The introduction of detailed roadmaps, clearer milestones and our online emissions dashboards has strengthened our ability to track progress and make informed decisions.
“We’re also well-positioned to pursue crucial funding opportunities, engage with government and build strong strategic local partnerships.
“We need to enlist the help of our residents in saving themselves money by reducing energy demands, making space for nature, reducing flood risk, and raising climate awareness and responsibility.
“This next year is a crucial one as we move forward together with purpose towards a decarbonised and safer future for people in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.”