The Chair of the Essex Climate Action Commission, Professor Jules Pretty is delighted to publish twelve calls-to-action that can be downloaded here. This sets out key priorities to protect and improve Essex’s natural environment, help residents enjoy healthier and more secure lives, and unlock opportunities for Essex businesses. 

Essex is part of the Government’s priority programme for devolution and local Government reorganisation. The public sector will be undergoing substantial changes in the coming years. This will include a new Mayor and a Greater Essex Combined County which will together have climate and environment as a core competency. There will also be a move to new Unitary Councils that will have all the powers and responsibilities of our existing local authorities, including climate and environment.

The Commission has developed these twelve calls-to-action as recommended priorities for these new emerging organisations.   

The Commission was established by Essex County Council and brings together a huge wealth of experience and knowledge from our universities, businesses working alongside community and public sector leaders. It is cross party and has representatives from every level of local government. In 2021 the Commission published over one hundred recommendations in its report: Net Zero: Making Essex Carbon Neutral. This report set out how public, private, community and third sector organisations can take action to protect our environment, cut carbon and make Essex more resilient to our changing climate. Since then, the Commission and partners have achieved major 64 impacts.

Commissioners continue to work with Essex County Council and partners across the county to support these ambitions. There is a fantastic momentum in Essex and these twelve new calls-to-action would enable the county to build on the work that is already being delivered by our public sector, businesses, land owners, charities, community groups and residents.   

For more information on devolution and the mayoral elections, visit Essex County Council's devolution pages.

For more information on Local Government Reorganisation, visit  A stronger Greater Essex | Essex Local Government Reorganisation Hub

Download the calls to action here.