Climate Change and Energy
Greenhouse Gas Report
Local authorities have been asked by the Government to measure and report on all of their greenhouse gas emissions. Following guidance[1] from the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), this report measures all greenhouse gasses. The previous emissions reporting tool, National Indicator 185, reported on carbon emissions only. This request by Government is different to that of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, which focuses on just energy used in buildings.
Emissions sources[2] reported below include all operations, which may be considered to be duties and functions of the council, although the council may contract others to deliver them. The sources reported here are aligned closely with our Annual Carbon Reduction Plan, which includes sites that are managed by the Manchester Sports and Leisure Trust. Schools have been included within this report, as they are included within our CRC responsibility.
This is the first year in which we have published an emissions report in this format, and it will be subject to change as we improve the way we collect data, and add emissions sources not currently measured. Any changes made will be fully explained in future reports, and - if necessary - the baseline will be amended to enable the reader to understand actual reductions that can be compared year on year. Further commentary on our approach to this report is provided in Table 3 below.
[1] Full details of this request and guidance can be found on the DECC website
[2] Emissions are reported in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e), this expresses the impact of each different greenhouse gas in terms of the amount of CO2 that would create the same volume of emissions
GHG emissions 2009/10 in tonnes of Co2e
GHG emissions 2010/11 in tonnes of Co2e
SCOPE 1
Fuels consumption > education
14,533
14,528
Fuels consumption > administration
16,924
15,664
Fuels consumption > other
4,801
3,191
Total Fuels Consumption
36,258
33,383
Total Owned Transport
5,450
5,049
Total Scope 1
41,708
38,432
SCOPE 2
Energy Indirect > Education
17,684
17,830
Energy Indirect > Administration
28,246
28,688
Energy Indirect > Other
2,945
3,437
Energy Indirect > Street Lighting
16,196
16,231
Total Purchased Electricity
65, 071
66,186
Total Scope 2
65,071
66,186
SIGNIFICANT SCOPE 3
Total significant scope 3 (Transport)
1,523
1,434
TOTAL EMISSIONS
108,302
106,052
| Group | 2009/10 Total (tCO2e) | Group % | Group | 2010/11 Total (tCO2e) | Group % | |
| Education | 32,217 | 30% | Education | 32,357.66 | 31% | |
| Administration | 45,170 | 42% | Administration | 44,352 | 42% | |
| Other (Serco) | 7,746 | 7% | Other (Serco) | 6,628 | 6% | |
| Street Lighting | 16,196 | 15% | Street Lighting | 16,231 | 15% | |
| Transport | 6,974 | 6% | Transport | 6,483 | 6% | |
| Total | 108,302 | 100% | 106,052 | 100% |
| 1. Authority Information | Manchester City Council |
| 2. Reporting Period | 2009/10 and 2010/11 |
| 3. Change in Emissions | This is the baseline year report |
| 4. Approach |
We have followed the Defra guidance for reporting business's greenhouse gas emissions. This guidance can be found here: www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/indicators/ni185/ni185.aspx |
| 5. Operational Scopes | Scope 1 (fossil fuel use - Gas and Oil, Owned Transport fuel), Scope 2 (Electricity use), Scope 3 (Business Transport) |
| 6. Geographic breakdown | Local Authority Estate and Operations |
| 7. Base Year | The council began formally measuring emissions of CO2 from its own operations in 2008/9, yet the baseline for measuring carbon reductions is 2009/10. This aligns with the council's first annual Carbon Reduction Plan, which was approved in March 2010 by the Executive Committee and the council's ten-year Low-CarbonDelivery Plan, which was approved by the Executive in October 2010. Both documents outline actions that will contribute to the city-wide climate change plan, Manchester - A Certain Future. |
| 8. Targets | The council has adopted a target of 41% carbon reduction by 2020. Details of the council's plan to meet this target can be found in its Annual Carbon Reduction Plan 2011/12. |
| 9. External Assurance Statement |
The council's emissions data has been externally accredited by Carbon Saver, who awarded the council the Gold Standard for emission reductions prior to April 2010. The Carbon Saver Gold Standard requires participating organisations to submit an evidence pack which is then subject to independent verification. This independent third party QA review was undertaken by Bureau Veritas. |
