Carbon emissions
To keep within budget for the full year, we need to reduce the Council's emissions by 1,204 tonnes compared to last year; this can be referred to as an annual savings target.
- 1,204 tonnes CO₂ – Annual Savings Target 2020-21
- 1,031 tonnes CO₂ – Annual Savings Implemented by March 2021
Council buildings
Emissions from energy use in Council buildings in Q3 this year are 12% lower than Q3 last year (2019-20). This reduction is driven by the installation of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy generation capacity, the decarbonisation of the national grid and changes to building use due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Street Lights
Emissions from streetlights have been reduced by the large-scale retrofitting of LEDs over the last few years. There is an overall downward trend, despite seasonal variation.
Q3 emissions this year (Oct to Dec 2020) are 27% lower than the same period last year (Oct to Dec 2019).
Waste fleet
Emissions from the waste fleet have remained relatively consistent over the past seven quarters. They will reduce in the coming quarters as the Council’s £9.8m investment in new electric waste collection vehicles converts 50% of the fleet to electric vehicles.
Operational fleet
Emissions from the Council’s operational fleet have reduced due to switching around 9% of vehicles to electric (as part of a rolling replacement programme) and because the Covid-19 pandemic has restricted certain activities normally involving the use of diesel vehicles. Emissions are 19% lower than the same period the year before.
Business travel
Emissions from business travel by council officers and elected members has reduced significantly this year largely due to Covid-19 and, for example, shifting to video conferencing.
Q3 emissions are 65% lower than the same period last year. Within this, the miles travelled by car (grey fleet, i.e. staff mileage in own vehicles, taxi and car club) have reduced 55% and miles travelled by rail and air are down by 95% and 90% respectively compared to the same period the year before. All air travel was undertaken by Social Services in relation to client work.
Summary
The Council’s total emissions reflect the downward trends seen in Figures 1-5, although it is fully expected that figures for Q4 will show a relative increase, as seen in Q3, due to higher energy demand in winter. Total emissions in Q3 are 14% lower than for the same period in the previous year.