What we're doing to tackle climate change

Climate change is the term used to describe changes to the planet's long-term weather patterns and average temperatures. 

What are carbon emissions?

Burning fossil fuels like gas, coal and oil produces energy. But they also release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous monoxide into the air. Once they're in the atmosphere, they form a blanket around the planet. This traps the heat from the sun and causes the earth to get hotter.

Find out more about the cause and impact of climate change (opens new window)

Carbon emissions are classed under three Scopes, depending on where the emissions come from:

• Scope 1 - this one means emissions that a company or organisation makes directly, like fuel burnt from running vehicles or gas used in heating or cooking
• Scope 2 - this one means emissions that are caused indirectly from energy bought and used, like electricity used to in lighting within a building
• Scope 3 - these are not produced by an organisation or company themselves, but indirectly as a consequence, like emissions produced when making, transporting and disposing of a light bulb in a building

Net zero means no longer adding to the total amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. We're committed to achieving net zero within scope 1 and 2, across all council services by 2030. We aim to do this by reducing the amount of carbon we produce. We also invest in schemes such as tree planting to try to remove carbon from the air.

In response to the growing concern to climate change, we declared a climate emergency in July 2019. 

In order to tackle the climate emergency, we have done the following:

• we're committed to achieving net-zero within our Scope 1 and 2 across all council services by 2030
• we set up a Climate Change Board with elected members and community partners to develop our climate response. In November 2022, the Climate Change Board reviewed and clarified the Climate Declaration to include biodiversity and air quality. View the Climate Change Board minutes. 
• we have developed partnerships within the borough to help assess the pathway to become carbon neutral
• we have developed a Climate Change Action Plan to tackle our carbon emissions

Our key priorities and targets

• Climate Emergency Funding
• Organisational Governance Emissions Reduction
• Transport, Active Travel, and Air Quality
• Renewable Energy Generation
• The Built Environment
• Waste and Resources
• Land Use and Adaptation/Green and Blue infrastructure
• Improving Communications and Digital Connectivity
• Supporting Borough and County-Wide Initiatives

What we aim to influence 

• County Schemes and Decisions
• Funding Availability
• Commercial Sustainability
• Residential Choices

Our carbon emissions report is updated annually. You can view previous versions on our green house gas emissions page.

Find out more about how we monitor air quality and pollution in our borough.