SHARING SUPPORT AND EXPERIENCE
Simon Richards is a Net Zero Innovation and Delivery Officer within the Climate Team at Forest of Dean District Council, part of the Fast Followers cohort.
The Forest of Dean’s net zero project has broad scope to target six themes:
- Training, skills, and capacity
- Physical cornerstones highlighting net zero innovation and best practice
- Finance models
- Community engagement for behaviour change
- Energy networks
- A new net zero place-based vision
This approach provides a framework to address the non-technical barriers to achieving net zero, both through existing projects and activities and their Future Net Zero Vision.
Existing projects and activities include the Levelling Up Fund projects, the decarbonisation of their fleet and estate, community energy projects, Carbon Literacy Training (CLT), and the knowledge and capacity within the council and partners.
Their Future Net Zero Vision will embed net zero into their governance, development planning, project management, regeneration projects, and work across the council and partners to build a pipeline of net zero projects with the capacity and finance to deliver.
Simon speaking at the recent Future Ready cohort event in Bristol
Simon’s net zero inspirations have evolved over his time working in the sector and include the amazing environment and landscape in the Forest of Dean where he lives and works, the impact of empowered communities to make a meaningful change, and the innovation of pioneers willing to take a risk and do something different to include the environment as part of their core values.
More recently, he is inspired by younger generations who are at the forefront of raising awareness on the climate emergency, which he says “in many ways, are the most important voices in this challenge.”
Simon is looking forward to working with others facing the same barriers and developing agile approaches to overcoming them. He believes that working in collaboration is vital to achieving net zero – and there is a wealth of experience and practical support to share in Future Ready. New to his role at the council, he’s excited to be working with a highly motivated Climate Team.