The table below shows the co-benefits of climate action the council aims to achieve for the borough:
| Co-benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Financial resilience and reduced poverty | Many interventions which reduce energy or resource use (and thus emissions) will also save residents money, protecting those facing deprivation. |
| Health | Many climate-positive actions – for example, active travel or moving to a climate-friendly diet – also have health benefits. |
| Economy and employment | The green economy could grow Bracknell Forest’s economic base and offer new, secure jobs for residents. |
| Inward investment | Climate action could raise Bracknell Forest’s profile, helping local businesses and sites to attract investment. |
| Education | Integrating climate change into education can encourage people to support others and the natural environment, empower them to take action and give them key green skills. |
| Biodiversity | Interventions to remove carbon and protect against the impacts of climate change often involve planting trees or creating spaces for nature, which also benefits biodiversity. |
| Equity and inclusion | Working together to enable a just transition can foster inclusion of different groups and communities. Climate change impacts disadvantaged and vulnerable people in particular, so climate action is key to demonstrating a commitment to equity. |
| Reduced resource use | Reducing consumption can reduce emissions but also help to conserve scarce natural resources such as water. |
| Air quality | Reducing burning of fossil fuels reduces air pollution, which can help reduce the risk of respiratory illness. |
| Water quality | Reducing chemical use reduces emissions and protects waters quality. For example, fertilisers can release nitrous oxides, which act as greenhouse gases but also harm water ecosystems. |
| Reduced waste | Reducing waste sent to landfill helps avoid a range of environmental impacts as well as reducing emissions. |
| Reduced congestion | Increasing the use of active travel and public transport can reduce congestion on roads as well as emissions. |
| Community cohesion | Bringing a diverse range of residents together to tackle climate change will help form community links, reduce isolation and empower people to drive local change. |
| Local food production | Action to increase availability of sustainable, local food can give residents the opportunity to be involved in food production and support local farms and agriculture. |
Delivering on climate change objectives will also have co-benefits for the council, such as supporting council finances, recruitment and retention, service resilience and partnership working. These benefits are explored further in the delivery section.