We are already experiencing the impacts of a changing climate caused by the greenhouse gases produced from burning fossil fuels. Our summers are hotter and drier, and winters are wetter. If we do not reduce our emissions this trend is predicted to get worse, with flash flooding being a particular risk for Crawley.

Climate change is also playing a part in nature’s decline. In the UK, we have lost nearly half of our biodiversity. Nature is central to our survival as a species and restoring and protecting nature is key to reducing emissions.

While Crawley has good air quality, private cars are the biggest cause of pollution, and this has a direct impact on health.

 For more in-depth information on climate change, visit the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change website.

In December 2024, Crawley Borough Council unanimously passed a new climate and nature emergency declaration to address and act upon climate change, the loss of nature and poor air quality.

This resolved to:

• reduce our direct emissions to next zero by 2030, and work with local community and business groups to reduce borough wide emissions to net zero by 2045 
• halt the loss of biodiversity by 2030 
• improve air quality across the borough. Visit our air quality pages for mare information

‘Net zero’ means achieving a balance between the greenhouse gases we emit into the atmosphere and the greenhouse gases removed from the atmosphere.

Action to Zero is our strategy for reducing our impact on the environment and helping Crawley to become a greener, cleaner and nicer place to live.

Read our climate and nature emergency related news by searching for the following keywords:

• climate
• energy
• transport
• nature
• water
• waste

Email climate@crawley.gov.uk for more information.