Strong progress is being made to achieving net zero by 2030, in our third Climate Change Annual Report.
The report shows success across the borough in reducing emissions, since declaring a climate change emergency.
Emissions for Gravesham have fallen from a high of 1,866kt of CO2 a year in 2006 to 432kt in 2020. The latest figures were published in June of this year, with data from the Government’s Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
The report highlights progress in the last year, including:
- Projects to increase the efficiency of council buildings, including ambitious plans for a new leisure centre at the Cascades site in Gravesend
- A borough-wide programme of electric vehicle charging point installation
- Introducing electric vehicles within the council’s fleet of 110 vans and 25 HGVs
- Sourcing government funding to retrofit existing council-owned homes
- Increase energy efficiency standards in newly built council homes
- Support for residents in improving the energy efficiency of their own properties
- Working with local businesses to increase their knowledge and understanding of carbon initiatives within the commercial sector
- Making improvements to parks and open spaces to promote biodiversity
- Enabling residents and visitors to have an appreciation of the health and well-being benefits such facilities can provide
The report outlines potential obstacles to achieving the council’s net zero target. “Financing this activity has become increasingly challenging with the current economic situation facing the entire country. The council recognises that this is being equally felt by its residents and businesses.”
The council has continued to actively signpost homeowners, private landlords and private tenants to financial support, and advice on group purchase schemes which could help with energy efficiency upgrades. This could help reduce the energy costs for running a home or commercial business.
The Leader, Cllr John Burden, said “The action we have taken means that we have been able to lead a decrease in CO2 emissions within the borough and progress activity focused on the council’s own operational emissions and those from the social housing it provides.
“With the cost of heating our homes and day-to-day living increases, I hope that initiatives including increasing our use of renewable energy, equipping council homes with better insulation. Providing information and support about warmer homes and saving energy, will deliver financial and health benefits to the community, whilst also helping to reduce our collective impact on the climate.
“We must work together during the year with other public sector partners, private sector organisations, and wider community to develop our learning and ability to deliver the best outcomes with limited resources. We must plot our way, step by step, to our 2030 goal.”
Cllr Burden highlights the work of the cross-party Climate Change Advisory Board, formed this year to monitor progress in delivering its Climate Change Strategy and whose regular meetings are open to the public. “Members and officers hold a strong common purpose to work together and ensure our climate change action plan gets us to where we need and want to be, but I am under no illusion that this will be no small feat.”
Read the full climate change annual report.