County Hall has revealed how it aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions by the end of the decade, with a warning that it will involve "significant" costs.

Norfolk County Council's strategy includes a series of measures, including swapping all street lighting bulbs to LED ones, switching its car fleet to electric vehicles and creating new green spaces.

The authority - which has just agreed just under £60m of cuts and warned of more to come - has not given any indication about how much the changes will cost.

But it does acknowledge they will require "significant capital expenditure", which will ultimately come from the taxpayer.

It comes at a time of growing unease from some about the cost of hitting net national zero targets, with fears about the impact it could have on the UK's economy.

However, opposition politicians at County Hall have said the council's plans do not go far enough to tackle the "terrifyingly urgent" issue of climate change.

READ MORE: Street lights dimmed ahead of concerns LED bulbs harm insects

Eastern Daily Press: All of Norfolk's street lights are set to be converted to LED bulbs as part of a climate strategy. Pic: Bill SmithAll of Norfolk's street lights are set to be converted to LED bulbs as part of a climate strategy. Pic: Bill Smith (Image: Bill Smith)

Steve Morphew, leader of County Hall's Labour group, said: "As a response to a climate crisis this doesn't go far enough or fast enough."

The strategy - which also covers council-owned contractor Norse - includes a commitment not to buy new petrol and diesel vehicles, except where there is no electric alternative.

The council says it will also convert all of Norfolk's streetlights to LED to cut carbon. Two-thirds have already been swapped, but the remainder will follow suit.

The 83-page document outlines how the council will promote low-carbon transport options, develop skills needed for the green economy, and encourage sustainable tourism.

All new schools will be net-zero, while buildings will be better insulated.

Eastern Daily Press: Norfolk county councillor James Bensly. Pic: Norfolk County CouncilNorfolk county councillor James Bensly. Pic: Norfolk County Council (Image: Norfolk Conservatives)

The council says it will also work with businesses, fellow councils and communities to support nature recovery.

It says much of the work towards net zero will be achieved by 'behavioural change'.

James Bensly, chair of the council's infrastructure and development select committee, which will discuss the strategy this week, said: "The threat of climate change is real, and we must take action now to safeguard Norfolk's future.

READ MORE: Council's £300k net zero plan sparks row

"A collective effort will be needed to address climate change, and we’ll need to work with our partners and stakeholders to achieve our ambitious targets, including our district councils and the private sector."

Eastern Daily Press: Green county councillor Jamie Osborn. Pic: Jamie OsbornGreen county councillor Jamie Osborn. Pic: Jamie Osborn (Image: Jamie Osborn)

But Green county councillor Jamie Osborn said: "The county council is at last setting out a strategic vision for cutting carbon pollution across Norfolk, but the rate of progress is far too slow."

The UK has a target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions - balancing the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere with the amount removed from it - by 2050.

But some Conservative MPs want to see a rethink on how the UK gets to net zero amid concern over the economic cost of doing so.

The issue was raised in last summer's Tory leadership contest, which culminated in South West Norfolk MP Liz Truss's brief stint as prime minister.

During the leadership campaign, Ms Truss told the Conservative Environment Network that she supported the UK’s net zero target, but also spoke out against using agricultural land for solar farms.

Eastern Daily Press: Liz TrussLiz Truss

Ms Truss had planned to lift the ban on fracking in England, but Rishi Sunak reinstated it.

But the issue - and whether the drive to reduce carbon emissions has contributed to the cost-of-living crisis - continues to raise heckles among some, who worry it will mean taxes have to rise.

Eastern Daily Press: Lee Anderson MPLee Anderson MP (Image: UK Parliament)

Days before his appointment as the Conservative party's deputy chairman, Lee Anderson MP said voters were "sick to death" of hearing about net zero.

 

What does net zero mean?

The term net zero means achieving a balance between the carbon which is emitted into the atmosphere, and the carbon which is removed from it.

That means cutting emissions as much as possible - by moving away from use of fossil fuels.

And it also means removing an equivalent amount for those which are created, such as by planting trees.

In 2019, the UK government set a target that will require the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

Norfolk County Council has a target to make its estate, including its buildings, net zero by 2030.