A meeting of the Vale of Glamorgan Council yesterday heard a report of what work has been undertaken to develop a Climate Change Action Plan.

The report is part of the response to the climate emergency declared by Council in July 2019.

The council heard how changes to how we work due to Coronavirus have been in line with steps needed to tackle climate change, as there is less travel involved with work, and that the action plan will use this to inform how we work in the future to reduce climate change.

"Some work has been developed, but not all of it has been possible during the pandemic," said VOG Council Leader Neil Moore.

"I endorse the amount of work that's been done on this, it is incredible and it's good that we're working in partnership with others, like the Public Service Board to cover a multitude of organisations who are all committed too," he said.

During the pandemic, the council has been able to improve street lighting by installing lower emission LED bulbs, promote walking or cycling for travel, introduce new recycling schemes, such as the one in Barry, and continue tree and wildflower planting.

Stanwell Councillor Lis Burnett noted that of the three new schools being built by the council, two would be low-carbon emissions, and one zero-carbon emissions.

The council has also made improvements to its housing stock, and created supplementary planning polices to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Gibbonsdown Councillor Margaret Wilkinson said: "We will make sure with the new builds that they are up to the right standards. We will not let them fail."

Plymouth Councillor Benjamin Gray said awareness was important for reducing climate change.

"When we declared a climate emergency, several people asked us what this will mean," he said.

"Education and engagement are really important to understanding what we can all do to effect this change.

"That's why it's important to take the time with that plan and I look forward to seeing it in April next year."

At a meeting on 29 July 2019, the council resolved to reduce its own carbon emissions to net zero before the Welsh Government target of 2030, and support the implementation of the Welsh Government's Low Carbon Delivery Plan, to help achieve the Welsh Government's ambition for the public sector in Wales to be carbon neutral.

The committee is due to publish a full Climate Change Action Plan in April 2021.