The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Climate Commission

The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Climate Commission was co-founded by Keele University following a Staffordshire Sustainability Leaders Summit held at Keele in November 2021, as part of the University’s celebration of the International Climate talks (COP26) being held in Glasgow that month.

Other founding members included Staffordshire County Council, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, the National Farmers Union, the Globe Foundation amongst others. The Commission has grown in strength and number, including engagement with the NHS and Staffordshire Police, Staffordshire Community Energy, Staffordshire Business Environment Network, Support Staffordshire, as well as many individual District and Borough Councils, and Stoke City Council.  

The Commission represents a multi-sector network covering public, private and third sector organisations, which aims to accelerate action on climate and nature recovery through creating connections and dialogue between those who would not otherwise meet. The Commission meets every two months, with a regular ‘knowledge exchange’ from an external speaker, followed by sharing of activities and challenges, in order to maximise synergies and opportunities to accelerate action. The Commission has brought funding to Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, created policy responses, and developed new collaborations linking sustainability to skills, energy, health, and land use amongst other areas.