Councillors will ask people throughout the county to help to shape the council's plan to fight global warming.

Cllr Tony Reid, said: 'Global warming is the biggest long-term threat to our prosperity and well-being, and there is a pivotal role for councils in tackling climate change.

'Our climate change strategy will enable us to take a systematic approach that will establish carbon reduction and resilience to climate change at the centre of all our service delivery.'

Last week the council agreed to sign the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change and to join the South East Climate Change Partnership.

The Nottingham Declaration, which has now been signed by 230 councils and is endorsed by central government, acknowledges that climate change is happening and that it will have far reaching effects on the UK's economy, society and environment.

The South East Climate Change Partnership is a broad alliance of public, voluntary and private sector organisations, which is looking at the impact of climate change in the region.

A project board will draw up a strategy and action plan, which is planned to be in place within 12 months and will look at ways of reducing carbon emissions.

For more information on the climate change strategy visit eastsussex.gov.uk