HAMPSHIRE County Council and East Hampshire District Council are pressing ahead with their plans to help save the planet.

Both declared a climate emergency on July 18 and are putting their respective strategies in place in response to the government’s target of making the UK ’carbon zero’ by 2050.

The county council aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality and the energy efficiency of buildings, deal with fuel poverty, seek new developments that are better for the environment and continue flood defence measures.

Cllr Rob Humby, the county council’s deputy leader and the executive member for the economy, transport and the environment, said: "This strategy will give us a framework within which all of the county council’s services can work towards these goals.

"We can’t do this alone - we need to work with our partners, and with local communities, to meet these challenging reduction targets and increase Hampshire’s climate resilience for future generations.

"These ambitions are also dependent on action by the UK government. I and my cabinet colleagues will continue to press government ministers to deliver on their pledges to make the UK carbon neutral."

Cllr Humby said Hampshire’s car use was a big issue: "With around 70 per cent of carbon emissions in Hampshire coming from transport and domestic property, it is important that a wider Hampshire action plan brings focus to these areas.

"We will seek out opportunities to secure funding to help us make Hampshire carbon neutral, such as extending sustainable travel choices for people outside of the cities and into Hampshire’s market towns and surrounding areas, including promoting walking and cycling."

The county council has appointed Cllr Jan Warwick as its environment champion.

Conservative run East Hampshire District Council is focusing on taking "urgent, positive and deliverable" steps to reduce its environmental impact.

These include appointing a climate change champion from the opposition, subsidising insulation and double glazing, and planting 120,000 trees - one for every district resident.

It has also pledged to reduce carbon emissions, promote sustainable businesses and ensure council services focus on environmental issues in every day decision-making.

It will improve energy efficiency of structures through planning and building regulations and work with other public bodies to meet the government’s carbon zero by 2050 target set out in the Climate Change Act.

Council leader Cllr Richard Millard said: "We will work together to ensure the results we have set out are achieved.

"We must look to the future and the kind of environment we will be handing on to future generations.

"We must take action now, before it is too late, to ensure real improvement in the lives of our children and grandchildren."

Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Steve Hunt added: "We have no doubt that the world is facing a climate emergency and it is every councillor’s responsibility to play their part in addressing that."