Our journey to Net Zero

How we are tackling Climate Change

• Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan

  In June 2019, we pledged to make the Council’s operations net zero by 2030. in 2022, we published our Climate Change Strategy and action plan.

• Calculated our Carbon Footprint

  Local authorities in England have been requested by Government to measure and report their GHG emissions from their own estate and operations, as previously reported under the best value regime.

  The council has continued to report against its total gross greenhouse gas emissions against the three specific ‘scopes’ for categorising the emissions:

  • Scope 1: All Direct Emissions from the activities of an organisation or under their control. Including fuel combustion on site such as gas boilers, fleet vehicles and air-conditioning leaks.
  • Scope 2: Indirect Emissions from electricity purchased and used by the organisation. Emissions are created during the production of the energy and eventually used by the organisation.
  • Scope 3: All Other Indirect Emissions from activities of the organisation, occurring from sources that they do not own or control.

  Total gross greenhouse gas emissions for Scope 1, 2 and 3 for the last financial year (2022-23) was 2207 tCO2e (tons of carbon dioxide equivalent – taking account of methane and nitrous oxide as well as carbon dioxide emissions).

• Climate Change as part of the Council's decisions

  The Council has implemented Climate Change as a key implication within all reports to ensure environmental impacts or benefits are identified and considered.

• Carbon Literacy

  We have committed to becoming a Carbon Literate organisation. In August 2023, we were awarded Bronze status, and to date 48 officers have attended the carbon literacy training.

• Energy efficient lighting

  We are gradually switching to LED lighting across all council buildings which will reduce energy use and save around 10 tonnes CO2e/year once all former lighting is replaced.

• EV charging infrastructure

  We have successfully commissioned 24 EV charge-points in four of our car parks in the borough, to facilitate residents who cannot install home chargers.