11 February 2026
Taking action on climate change
Bigger, better and more joined up
As the New Forest National Park Authority, we’re working to both reduce the effects of climate change and help the Forest adapt, so that the special qualities of the National Park are maintained for future generations. National parks across the UK are pulling together to drive change and inspire positive action too.
We’re doing this across all of our work. Coordinated through our ‘Net Zero with Nature’ approach, we are aiming to support the National Parks' internationally important habitats to be bigger, better and more joined up, and, therefore, more resilient to climate change.
What is adaptation and mitigation?
We can help the New Forest adapt to the climate and nature emergencies by making more space for nature and making wildlife areas more resilient. This is called adaptation.
We can help protect the New Forest’s carbon stores and increase its ability to remove carbon from the atmosphere through restoring and protecting habitats. This is called mitigation.
By making changes now, we can make a positive difference to the New Forest and the planet for future generations. Find out more about how we can make the most of climate change opportunities here.
How are we taking action on climate change in the New Forest?
Our framework for action on climate change outlines our plan, as a National Park Authority (NPA), to drive forward the New Forest’s response to climate change beyond our organisational boundaries. This includes:
Implementing nature-based solutions
We’re helping support the rapid transition to a low-carbon economy for land-based sectors, ensuring that land use change delivers sustainable land management and improvements to soils, supporting increased carbon sequestration (absorption and storage).
We’re also demonstrating how nature-based solutions can help develop resilience to climate change at a landscape scale, for example, through the Higher Level Stewardship Scheme, Farming in Protected Landscapes, and the Species Survival Fund.
Establishing baseline data and evidence
It’s important to identify and fill knowledge gaps, helping us to understand more about the impacts of climate change and the opportunities for meaningful action here in the New Forest. Read more about the risks climate change poses to the National Park and our full risks and adaptations report here.
We’re developing pilot projects that demonstrate how to finance climate mitigation actions through carbon offsetting schemes and support the National Park Partnership’s Net Zero with Nature proposal. Read more about the UK National Parks baseline emissions synthesis report here.
Bringing people together to tackle climate change
We’re using the full range of the NPA’s skills and resources to encourage climate action at strategic, landscape and local community levels. We’re also advocating for policy change and partnership working.
Activating communities
We’re providing communities with the skills and the opportunities to take the actions they can, share ideas and make a real difference, for example, through Awakening Festival, Carbon Literacy Training and supporting New Forest Green Groups.
We’re also empowering young people to understand and lead climate action within their communities and supporting green skills and jobs through the Youth for Climate and Nature (YouCAN) scheme.
As a National Park Authority, we’re using our planning powers to deliver highly sustainable homes and raise the bar in terms of design and build standards through incentives.
Increasing sustainable transport
It’s important to promote sustainable tourism. Read more about our work encouraging sustainable and active travel here.
We’re working with partners to unlock opportunities to reduce emissions from individuals and public transport, for example, through convening the New Forest Transport Summit and supporting New Forest inclusive cycling charity PEDALL.
Working with UK National Parks
We’re working with the UK’s 15 National Parks on coordinated action to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, joining the Race to Zero initiative, committing to drive action to halve carbon emissions within their landscapes by 2030 and become significant net carbon sinks by 2050.
Working together
Learn more about how all the bodies responsible for the New Forest are working together on climate change in our joint Partnership Plan and see our progress.
Partnership Plan 2022-2027
