Public sector decision making

What we want to achieve

To better understand and manage our carbon impact, and to influence others to do the same.

We will ensure the climate emergency and our net zero carbon ambitions are at the forefront of decision making and are embedded in our key strategies and plans such as the Council Plan, the emerging Local Plan, and the forthcoming Medway 2037. We will continue to build on existing relationships and create new ones to share best practice and support each other. We will engage with young people and give them the opportunity to lead in climate action.

How we will do this

We have set out a range of actions for how Medway can respond to the climate emergency. These range from actions that the council will take to lead by example, to those that will support the community to act.


Earth iconEnsure that climate change is incorporated and embedded into all relevant council policies, strategies, plans and contracts.

training icon Identify training needs for staff and councillors to ensure that everyone can deliver on climate action.

document iconDevelop a smart city strategy. Read about what a smart city is on the National Geographic website.

Review literature on the impact of climate change on health inequalities and apply findings to the Medway population.

document iconSet up a working group and carry out an audit of avoidable single use plastic and all single use products across council owned buildings. Develop a timeline to work towards all council buildings being single use plastic free and all other sites (including schools and council events).

till iconReview how we make purchases as a council and see how we can influence those we buy from to disclose and reduce their emissions.

Our progress so far

  • A cohort of 27 officers received carbon literacy training delivered by the Centre for Alternative Technology. The climate response engagement officer has also joined in a Climate Fresk Workshop, to investigate other climate change staff training options.
  • 5 interns have been appointed since 2020 via the University of Kent’s Employability Points scheme. 2 of these interns joined in June 2022 to support actions within the action plan.
  • The Sustainable Development Goals have been mapped against our Climate Change Action Plan, with the findings being incorporated into our refreshed Action Plan.
  • We are trialling a draft social value policy within active tenders (invitations for bids for contracts with the council), which includes a request for evidence of tonnes of CO2e saved through the contract. Services can also include additional environmental impacts such as a reduction in single use plastic.
  • Our Child Friendly Medway Team has hosted hugely successful City Hall events, which has shown that the environment is a priority for young people. In the Child Friendly Medway survey, which more than 3,000 young people took part in, 1 in 5 people said that parks and green spaces were what they love most about Medway, and 1 in 3 16 to 25-year-olds reported being worried about the environment and future of the planet. Young people asking for more public water fountains at the City Hall events has led to the council working with Sea Changers, who awarded the council a £2,000 grant, to install a new water fountain at Riverside Country Park.
  • In 2021 the Medway Food Partnership (MFP) was launched, with a sub-group focussed on climate change and the environment. The partnership is working with local businesses and the not-for-profit sector to:
    • make sure everyone has access to sustainable and healthy food
    • build the public’s education and skills around healthy food
    • create healthier communities and better futures for our residents.

Read all the actions

To read all the actions in our plan:

Combat climate change

Only together can we combat climate change. Find out what you can do to take action.

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