A CAMPAIGN to encourage people to make small changes to their lives in a bid to help tackle climate change has been launched by Basildon Council.

The Small Changes, Big Impact campaign launched today (Monday, 7 June) with the aim of highlighting how the council is working to become carbon net-zero by 2030 and what residents can do to help contribute to the 2050 target of making the whole borough carbon net-zero.

For example, says the council, 'we can all make small changes like not overfilling the kettle when we make a cup of tea or reducing our heating by 1C, which can save a typical home £150 per year.'

Council leader Cllr Andrew Baggott said: "The evidence is indisputable climate change is happening and we are taking up the challenge to do all we can as an organisation to reduce the greenhouse gases we produce.

"We are also working to highlight what residents can do too. It doesn't have to be big changes as collectively if we all commit to even just one thing like walking to work or taking a bus once a week it can make a big difference to our air quality."

The campaign is set to run throughout the summer and autumn and will include social media posts, videos, outdoor advertising and events (subject to Government guidance).

The council signed off Basildon's first ever climate change policy earlier this year which committed to decarbonising council buildings and taking steps to replace gas boilers with electric alternatives. The policy also outlined how the council will make use of government grant funding as it becomes available.

The council is also in the process of switching its fleet of vehicles to electric with the parks team already benefitting from the use of two electric vans (See video).

Energy efficiency in the council's housing stock is also a high priority with maintenance contractor Morgan Sindall Property Services leading on a programme to fit homes with external wall insulation (EWI).

A detailed climate change strategy is currently being developed.

To find out more about the campaign and what small things you can do to make a big impact visit www.basildon.gov.uk/climate