CO2 emissions
The CCAP has a target to reduce direct emissions of CO2 by 50% over the five-year period of 2020-25. To achieve this, the Council has a target to reduce its emissions by 13% every year, for five years.
The CCAP also sets a carbon budget of 119,988 tonnes of CO2 for the five-year period of 2020-25, calculated using science-based targets.
Total CO2 emissions for each year of the CCAP 2020-25, against the annual emissions budget from the baseline year, 2018-19 to highlight the year on year budget reduction. From 2018-19 until the current year, the Council has remained within the emissions budget.
The carbon budget for 2021-22 is 27,056 tonnes.
The Council has emitted 23,410 tonnes of CO2 between April 2021 and March 2022; 87% of the available budget – these are the most up to date figures for the year. The emissions relate to Council buildings, streetlights, waste collection, operational fleet, and business travel. The charts below show a quarter-by-quarter view of emissions from April 2019 for the different Council activities responsible for direct CO2 emissions. Seasonal differences are shown, e.g. energy consumption and emissions peak in winter, the impact of COVID-19 and overall trends.
Data from the previous two years is included since COVID-19 has meant that emissions in 2020-21 were unusual and in most instances, it is more meaningful to compare Q4 in 2021-22 to Q4 in 2019-20 than to the previous year.
Council’s total emissions for this year reflect the overall downward trend seen in the emissions stats below, alongside expected seasonal variations. Total emissions in Q4 2021-22 are 20% lower than Q4 in the previous year and 31% lower than Q4 in 2019-20 (pre COVID-19).
- Emissions from streetlights are on a downward trend as a result of LED installations.
- Emissions in Q4 2021-22 are 9% lower than Q4 in the previous year and 30% lower than the same quarter in 2019-20.
- As the LED replacement programme is complete, we expect only seasonal change going forward.
- Emissions from fuel used by the waste fleet fell in Q4 2021-22 and were 14% lower than in Q4 the previous year.
- Emissions have fallen in Q4 2021-22 due to the ongoing deployment of the electric refuse collection vehicles (eRCVs). 25 eRCVs are now operational.
- Emissions from the Council’s operational fleet in Q4 2021-22 are 5% lower than Q4 in the previous year and 12% lower than Q4 in 2019-20. The rolling replacement programme continues to provide electric vehicles and other alternative modes of transport to the existing petrol and diesel vehicles.
- Business travel emissions remain significantly lower than pre COVID-19 levels. Emissions from business travel in Q4 of 2021-22 are 36% lower than Q4 in 2019-20. However, travel has increased slightly each quarter as restrictions have eased and business travel has resumed.
- Staff are taking a hybrid approach to work, and whilst virtual meetings are popular, more face-to-face meetings and events are taking place.
- Compared to the previous quarter, there has been little change across the use of Car Club, travel by car (grey fleet) and taxi increased slightly, and business travel by rail reduced by 28%. A total of ten flights were taken in Q4 2021-22: four flights across Adults and Children’s Services to fulfil statutory responsibilities and three return flights were taken to Ireland for civic duties to engage in the Athy St Patrick's Day Parade and to unveil a plaque to celebrate Athy’s unique contribution to culture in Manchester. Alternative modes of travel were considered and ruled out for this trip.