Suffolk Villages Unite for Climate Action
Three Suffolk parishes have sparked a wave of grassroots climate action, resulting in the formation of a new Suffolk Green Cluster of seven villages and parishes working together to tackle the Climate and Ecological Emergency through community-led solutions.
Delivered by Community Climate Action (CCA), a national initiative supporting neighbourhoods to write and enact their own Community Climate Action Plans, the workshops brought together Parish Councils, residents, businesses and local organisations to collaborate and build a resilient, low-carbon future.
“This is real, hands-on, community-led climate action,” said Joolz Thompson, Chief Executive of Community Climate Action. “The Suffolk Green Cluster shows what’s possible when communities come together—locally owned, democratically managed solutions that deliver real change and bring people together.”
The outcome of the workshops is a networked Green Cluster with cross-community working groups focused on the five key themes of Community Climate Action:
Energy – identifying opportunities for community-owned renewable energy and energy advice. The cluster is already progressing an 11MW Agrivoltaic project with local farmers, backed by a grant from the Community Energy Fund.
Housing – launching Energy Champion schemes to deliver energy efficiency advice, reduce bills, and cut emissions through retrofitting.
Food – improving food and water resilience, reconnecting people to local food sources and creating resilient supply chains.
Transport – designing cleaner, safer neighbourhoods with more walking, cycling, shared and public transport options—boosting health and reducing emissions.
Biodiversity – taking action to enhance local green spaces, aligned with the statutory Biodiversity Duty and emerging Local Nature Recovery Strategies.
The workshops used an interactive, participatory approach based on stakeholder mapping, shared values, and project planning using CCA’s GROW framework (Goal, Reality, Options, Who). Crucially, the plans are written by the community, ensuring genuine local ownership and long-term commitment.
“This has sparked a real sense of purpose across our villages. We’ve moved beyond talking — we’re now building real, practical projects that benefit our residents, reduce emissions, and bring people together. It’s inspiring to be part of something so positive and forward-thinking.” said Andy Warnes, Chair, Redgrave Parish Council, “We’ve seen neighbours who hadn’t met before now co-leading ambitious climate projects.”
Key outcomes from the Suffolk Green Cluster include:
Carbon Literacy Training across communities, ensuring every institution—from churches to schools—has a trained Community Climate Champion.
Energy Awareness Workshops to help households understand and reduce their consumption.
Community Climate Action Plans under development across all seven parishes.
Mapping of community energy needs and opportunities for local generation.
The Suffolk Green Cluster is already serving as a replicable model for other towns and parishes across the UK—demonstrating that when communities unite around shared values and practical action, they can create a thriving, resilient, and low-carbon future.