Bridgend Council has published an updated version of their “net zero” strategy, which was first drafted following the council’s declaration of a climate emergency in June 2020 (pdf).
BCBC has committed to cut greenhouse gas emissions to the same level as they’re removed from the atmosphere (“net zero”) by 2030 in line with Welsh Government public sector targets. That target is likely to be reviewed.
The Review
An independent review undertaken of the council’s actions to date (pdf) concluded that, of the council’s carbon management measures:
- There was minimal or no progress at all on 18 of them. Most of these relate to electric vehicles, active travel and procurement.
- Basic progress has been made on 19 measures.
- Moderate progress has been made on 12 measures, particularly energy efficiency of public buildings, planning for renewable energy and training.
- Only three measures have made advanced progress: carbon reduction assessments of large-value contracts, accurate measurement of the council’s carbon footprint and cutting food waste in schools.
- No measures have made what the reviewers describe as “exceptional progress”.
- 14 of the council’s carbon management initiatives should be removed. This is down to a mix of the task being completed, unsuccessful funding bids, changes to council departments, or the measure no longer being relevant.
- A similar number of measures should be reviewed, revised or changed.
Elsewhere, reviewers also concluded:
- While the council’s emissions are expected to fall by around 32% if they stick to their initiatives, they will still miss the 2030 net-zero target by a big margin (37,000 tons).
- There has been progress in cutting the council’s emissions, particularly fossil fuel energy consumption, but most emissions are tied to external suppliers, meaning they are largely out of the council’s control.
- In interviews, the council’s carbon leads/officers said that the current system doesn’t work. Progress isn’t reviewed, and there are too many competing priorities.
The New Strategy
Taking the recommendations of the review into account, the draft strategy (pdf), includes:
- Changes to the carbon lead system. A group of officers will work across different service areas, and the carbon lead for waste will be removed (as waste management policies are decided nationally).
- The specific carbon management measures/action plan measures have been cut from 52 to 36. These are grouped into four areas: behaviour change, estates, fleet (transport) and procurement.
- The strategy will be reviewed again in 2027 to take into account changes to the law and Welsh and UK Government policies.
The total cost of delivering the new initiatives is estimated at just under £110million. A lot of this money is set to be spent anyway as part of routine maintenance and replacement programmes. This includes upgraded heating systems, construction of new buildings (such as more energy efficient schools) and replacing old vehicles amongst other things.
Subject to Cabinet approval, a public consultation on the draft strategy will be launched shortly.
