Background information

Background

Climate change is one of the most significant challenges facing communities around the world, and Hastings is no exception. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, more frequent extreme weather and accelerating loss of nature are already affecting people’s health, homes, livelihoods and the places they care about.

Globally, climate change is driving rising sea levels, more intense heatwaves, droughts, flooding and biodiversity loss. Without sustained and coordinated action, these impacts will become more severe, more disruptive and more costly to address in the future.

In Hastings, climate change is not a distant or abstract issue. We are already experiencing hotter summers, warmer and wetter winters, increased flood risk, coastal erosion, pressure on infrastructure, and changes to local wildlife.

These impacts are expected to intensify over the coming decades, particularly for coastal towns like ours.

What do we mean by climate change?

Climate change refers to long-term changes in average weather patterns, including temperature, rainfall and the frequency and intensity of extreme events.

The primary cause of recent climate change is the build-up of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, in the Earth’s atmosphere. These gases trap heat, acting like a blanket around the planet. As concentrations increase, global temperatures rise.
Greenhouse gas emissions come mainly from:

• Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) for energy, heating and transport
• Changes in land use, including deforestation
• Some industrial and agricultural processes

Once released, many of these gases remain in the atmosphere for decades, meaning today’s emissions will continue to influence the climate well into the future.

Net zero, carbon neutral and what they mean for Hastings

In 2019, Hastings Borough Council declared a Climate Emergency, recognising the scale and urgency of the challenge and committing to take action locally while working with partners at regional and national levels.

The council set an ambition for Hastings to reach net zero emissions, meaning that:

• Emissions are reduced as far as possible across homes, transport, energy, waste and land use 
• Any remaining, unavoidable emissions are balanced by credible, nature-based carbon removal

Carbon neutral refers to balancing emissions through offsetting, while net zero places greater emphasis on reducing emissions first, with offsets used only where necessary.

Ambitious, but realistic

Our 2026 Climate Strategy sets out clear and ambitious direction, while also being honest about the scale of change required and the limits of local control.

Reaching net zero across the whole town by 2030 would require:

• Rapid, large-scale upgrades to most homes and buildings
• Major changes to transport systems and energy infrastructure
• Significant national policy reform and sustained government investment

While Hastings may not reach net zero by 2030, this does not reduce the importance of acting now.

Early action:

• Cuts emissions faster and reduces long-term costs
• Improves health, air quality and energy security
• Helps protect nature and strengthen resilience to climate impacts
• Positions Hastings to benefit from future funding, partnerships and innovation

Our approach is therefore to reduce emissions as quickly and fairly as possible, while preparing the town for the impacts of climate change that are already unavoidable.

Our climate and nature strategy

The Climate Strategy and Action Plan provide a framework for action across the council and the wider borough.

They focus on:

• Reducing emissions from energy, transport, buildings and waste
• Restoring and protecting nature through the Nature Emergency Action Plan
• Supporting residents and businesses to take practical action
• Adapting to climate impacts such as flooding, heatwaves and coastal change

The Climate Strategy is town-wide. While the council is committed to leading by example in its own operations, success depends on collaboration with residents, businesses, community groups, partners and national government.

We recognise that:

• Climate action must be fair and inclusive
• Costs and constraints are real, particularly for households and small businesses
• Local authorities cannot deliver change at the scale required without national support

That is why we will continue to lobby for stronger powers, fair funding and national action, while doing everything within our local influence to move Hastings towards a cleaner, healthier and more resilient future.

Climate change science

The scientific evidence for climate change is clear and well established. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has concluded with very high confidence that human activity is the main driver of recent global warming.

Global temperatures have already risen by around 1°C above pre-industrial levels, and this warming is already affecting people and ecosystems worldwide. Every additional fraction of a degree increases risks to health, food security, water supply, biodiversity and economic stability.
Limiting future warming depends on rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors, alongside measures to adapt to the changes already underway.
Impacts we are already experiencing in Hastings

Climate change is already affecting everyday life in Hastings.

We have seen:

• More frequent and intense rainfall events and surface water flooding
• Hotter summers and heatwaves, affecting health and comfort
• Pressure on coastal defences and increased erosion risk
• Impacts on local wildlife, habitats and green spaces

These changes affect homes, businesses, transport networks and essential services, and they highlight the importance of both cutting emissions and building resilience.

Working together

Addressing climate change is a long-term challenge that will continue to evolve as new evidence, technologies and opportunities emerge. Our strategy is not a fixed endpoint, but a living framework that will be reviewed and updated as we learn what works best for Hastings.
By working together — locally, regionally and nationally — we can:

• Reduce emissions responsibly
• Restore nature
• Protect our communities from climate risks
• Create a fairer, healthier and more resilient Hastings for the future