The Climate Emergency UK rankings reflect what councils have achieved in tackling climate change. These have awarded Dacorum Borough Council 33%, ranking the Council at 44th place amongst 164 English District councils and in 5th place in Hertfordshire.
To put this scoring in context, the average score for district councils was 29%, with a wide range of scoring, from 12% to 61%.
The scorecards are a wholly independent assessment of the climate plans and strategies of councils around the country, with each council being rated using 89 questions in seven different sections. This is the second scoring delivered by Climate Emergency UK, with the first, using a different methodology, released in early 2021. This year’s score is based on an “expert-approved checklist” and included rating the Council’s efforts in Governance and Finance; Collaboration and Engagement; Buildings and Heating, and Biodiversity.
The study was conducted between January and June this year and each authority was given the right of reply. Therefore, it reflects the policies of the previous administration in Dacorum.
The other council results in Hertfordshire are:
| Council | 2023 Score % |
| Watford | 39 |
| East Herts | 36 |
| St Albans | 35 |
| Hertsmere | 34 |
| Dacorum | 33 |
| North Herts | 32 |
| Three Rivers | 30 |
| Welwyn Hatfield | 28 |
| Stevenage | 27 |
| Broxbourne | 25 |
Dacorum Borough Council scored strongest in the categories of Collaboration and Engagement (65%), Planning and Land Use (43%), and Buildings and Heating (41%). Scores in other categories include Biodiversity (38%), Waste Reduction and Food (21%), Governance and Finance (15%), and Transport (6%).
The Council formally declared a climate emergency in 2019 and has since been working hard to develop a strategy and action plan to enable the Council to meet its target of being carbon neutral as an organisation by 2030, and a Borough by 2050.
Every department in the Council has been tasked with seeking ways to be cleaner and greener. This includes reducing annual mileage of our waste vehicles and upgrading energy efficiency in sheltered housing blocks and council homes, as well as conserving and enhancing our natural spaces. Dacorum has also worked with other councils in Hertfordshire to identify areas of high demand for Electric Vehicle Charging Points, to help residents purchase discounted solar panels through Solar Together, and provide energy saving advice through its HEAT app.
Cllr Adrian England, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Climate Action and Opportunity commented: “Dacorum’s score of 33% in the 2023 Climate Scorecards ranks 5th out of Hertfordshire’s districts. This reflects the positive work Councillors and staff are doing, but the highest comparative ‘district’ ranking, Lancaster, at 61%, shows we have ‘low hanging fruit’ available for much progress.
“We need to focus and find ways to make that progress and show practical leadership in reducing harm, both locally and through world demand, of which we make an above-typical portion for our size. This is why the new Cabinet has a Portfolio-Holder specifically-focused on Climate Action and Opportunity.
“Instead of experiencing the crash of a Climate Emergency, Dacorum is well-placed to try to generate a different outcome, Climate Justice, which is comparatively less costly and disruptive for our most vulnerable residents and businesses — and does us credit as a Borough.
“I call on the Government to see this as an opportunity, and to step-up support for Local Government to be able to invest in smart, local renewables generation, energy efficiency, protection of wildlife, reducing gridlock on our roads, improving air quality, and defending at-risk homes and businesses from climate factors.”
The Council Climate Action Scorecards is a project of Climate Emergency UK with technical support from mySociety.
Header image: Dacorum Fields
