DARTMOOR National Park Authority (DNPA) has unanimously approved its draft Climate Action Plan.

The authority says the Climate Action Plan is the most detailed assessment of its climate impact it has ever undertaken. It focuses on what DNPA can do to further reduce its own carbon footprint.

Authority members considered the plan at their meeting on Friday.

Dartmoor was the first National Park to declare a climate and ecological emergency on July 26, 2019. The plan is designed to help make Dartmoor National Park Authority, as an organisation, carbon neutral by 2025.

The authority has already reduced its carbon emissions by 45% since 2010. The Climate Action Plan prioritises:

Procuring renewable energy from a guaranteed supply.

Replacing fossil fuel powered vehicles/equipment with electric alternatives (subject to budget) and installing solar panels at Haytor.

An ongoing commitment to promoting flexible working and sustainable travel choices to staff.

Members agreed:

To approve the draft Climate Action Plan and key actions identified for 2020 and review it on an annual basis.

Noted that £50,000 earmarked in reserves will be used to fund key actions in 2020/21, with any costs above this subject to separate Authority approval.

For the chairman of the authority and chief executive to highlight the need for an agreed carbon accounting framework to ensure consistency across both emissions and sequestration of carbon.

DNPA works with partners to protect and preserve Dartmoor’s important range of incredibly diverse habitats and rare wildlife, all of which play a crucial role in supporting life and the overall health of the planet.

How climate change should be tackled across the National Park is a wider issue and is being tackled through the draft Dartmoor Local Plan, Dartmoor National Park Management Plan and the emerging Devon Carbon Plan.

The Dartmoor National Park Management Plan consultation offering people the chance to have their say on how major topics including climate change are tackled and managed in the future. People still have time to get involved – the consultation ends on April 20.

DNPA is part of the county-wide response through the Devon Climate Emergency Response Group (DCERG). DCERG is putting together a comprehensive Devon Carbon Plan which sets out what every resident, organisation and business has to do to reduce emissions and safeguard the planet for the next generation.

As part of the National Park family, Dartmoor is working towards carbon neutrality with all English National Park Authorities and a national task and finish group is developing a co-ordinated approach and lobby government.