Swansea Council has been congratulated by global environment assessors for the work it has done to improve the environment.

One Planet Standard coordinators - Assessment Services Ltd, has now congratulated the Council after ongoing environmental efforts have led to the unique standard being maintained in Swansea.

The One Planet Standard provides a framework for organisations to create a road map towards net zero carbon, with the necessary targets and metrics to keep them on their journey.

As well as decarbonisation, this covers buildings, travel, land use and waste as well as biodiversity and the impact on natural resources.

The announcement of the award also coincides with Earth Day, which takes place on Monday 22 April and seeks to encourage everyone to look after the planet.

Andrea Lewis, the Council's joint deputy leader and cabinet member for service transformation, is delighted that the One Planet Standard has been maintained.

Cllr Lewis said: "It's great news that Swansea Council has maintained the One Planet Standard recognition at bronze level - it shows how seriously we take our work to aid nature recovery and to tackle climate change. I thank all the staff who were involved in the assessment.

"We were the first council in the UK to achieve this standard in 2022 and since then, have continued to take steps to continue this journey towards being a net zero council by 2030.

"It's important to have measurable standards and an independent set of eyes making sure that we don't have gaps in things that we should be focusing on.

"This is about changing behaviours, winning hearts and minds, bringing businesses, bringing the public along with us and of course engaging our staff."

The council has declared both a nature and a climate emergency. It's working to protect biodiversity and tackle climate change. 

It has the biggest electric vehicle fleet of any council in Wales and has cut the amount of energy it uses in its buildings and on its network of street lights.

The council is protecting and promoting biodiversity across the city alongside community groups and businesses.