Transformation Strategy 2022 - 2027

Decarbonisation and Biodiversity

1.    Overall aim

To support the Council in delivering transformational change in support of key NZC objectives and targets.

 

2.    What need do we need to transform and why?

At a meeting of Full Council in February 2019, the Council declared a ‘climate change emergency’ and unanimously agreed to become a Net Zero Carbon authority by 2030. Achieving NZC by 2030 will require the delivery of a range of ambitious actions and targets as set out within a Carbon Reduction Plan which in turn will require the involvement and commitment of services across the Council.

The Council has now furthered its commitment in both and declaring a Nature Emergency and in establishing a cross-party Advisory Panel to provide advice to Cabinet on the development and implementation of policies and programmes to deliver the transition to net zero by 2030 and address the nature emergency.

To date the Council has adopted a phased and pragmatic approach in providing an early priority focus on reducing its own emissions and decarbonising its own estate. That work has resulted in a reduction of 14% overall carbon emissions to 2021, but it is recognised that transformational change will be required across the authority if we are to deliver net zero by 2030. Key areas will include further demand reduction and decarbonisation of our energy use, decarbonisation of our procurement, supply chain and built infrastructure, coupled with focussed approach to land use management and offsetting, if key objectives are to be achieved. 

This will need to work in parallel with work of projects undertaken as part of the current TIC programme which have sought to reduce the carbon cost of staff travel through the promotion of more sustainable meeting and travel options together with initiatives to rationalise printing and paper processes. 

 

3.    Key Objectives 

• To support the delivery of the Authority’s response to climate change and a nature emergency.
• Support the identification and delivery of carbon savings and nature enhancement at both a corporate and service level.
• To act as champions for decarbonisation and the enhancement of biodiversity within plans programmes, projects and other interventions designed in service areas.
• Identify opportunities for carbon savings through service design, development and delivery.
• To identify barriers to meeting the net zero target and in enhancing biodiversity within the authority at a strategic and project/ programme level.
• Review ‘carbon cost’ within service areas.
• Develop and monitor an approach to Carbon budgeting within service areas.
  • Encourage staff to think more innovatively in relation to commissioning and procurement activities and challenge existing ways of working. 
  • To recommend the actions that will decarbonise the Authority’s estate.
  • To work with and influence partners, including regional organisations and government to deliver actions that decarbonise the public sector. 
  • To align activity on asset management, decarbonising and land use across the Authority.
• To identify opportunities within the Authority’s remit to reduce our carbon footprint and address the nature emergency.
• Develop opportunities to engage with staff, other public sector partners and the public which demonstrate our commitment and encourage modal shift.

 

4.    What will be our priorities for the coming year and beyond?

• Develop a Carbon literacy programme for members by December 2023.
• Develop and roll out a Procurement Toolkit by March 2023.
• Develop a Land Use Plan for decarbonisation/ nature emergency by March 2023.
• Develop “carbon trajectories” by December 2022.
• Develop a methodology for carbon budgets by February 2023. 
• Report to WG on progress against public net zero commitment by March 2023.
• Pilot Carbon budgeting by June 2023.
• Roll out Carbon budgeting by September 2023.
• Develop External Communications plan by December 2023.

 

5.    How will we measure the impact of this work?

• Total carbon savings for each service area over time.
• Annual reporting on the “State of nature” report.
• Annual reporting on energy generation.

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