A COUNCIL has made climate change a guiding principle in its decision-making process.

Denbighshire County Council has voted unanimously to amend its constitution so that all decisions made must "have regard to tackling climate and ecological change".

It follows the council's declaration of a climate and ecological emergency last year, which included a commitment to make the authority net carbon zero by 2030.

It also committed to enhancing biodiversity across the county and called on the Welsh Government and UK Government to provide funding to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

Cllr Graham Timms, the council’s Climate Change and Ecological Emergency Working Group chair, said: “This decision shows the commitment Denbighshire County Council has made to tackling climate and ecological change. By making climate and ecological change a part of our decision making we hope to limit the Council’s impact on further exacerbating climate and ecological change and to maximise opportunities to make a positive contribution.

“We believe we are the first Council in Wales to take such a step.”

Cllr Brian Jones the council’s cabinet member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “This is a positive step for the Council and we are continuing to work on ensuring the Council is reducing its carbon footprint and increasing biodiversity in the county.

“We have already achieved a lot, we have reduced carbon emissions from our buildings and fleet by 15 per cent since 2017, the Council now only uses renewable electricity for its own buildings after switching to a renewable only energy provider for its schools, leisure centres, libraries, council offices and depots and we are over halfway to reaching our target of planting 18,000 trees by 2022.

“Our Climate and Ecological Change Strategy and Action Plan to get the Council to net carbon zero and ecologically positive by 2030 which we engaged with the public on earlier this year will be ready early next year. We intend to consult with the public on the draft strategy in November.”