Issue - meetings

The Climate Change Officer provided a presentation on the Council’s approach to Carbon Reduction.

The Committee were shown figures of the Council’s own carbon emissions.  It was noted these were not comprehensive, and that Members should not focus on carbon emissions alone – this could lead to missing other important factors which would be explained.

In the weeks prior to the meeting, the Met Office had released its Local Authority Climate Service.  The service provided essential climate information to support local authorities (the Council) which was tailored to local areas (the District).  The Met Office’s aim was to provide an easy to use platform for climate risk assessments to be researched and allow local authorities to produce adaptation plans and develop climate resilience.

The current overall conclusion of this work was that summers would be hot and dry, and winters warm and wet.  The service predicted likely future rainfall, growing days for agriculture, frost days, and of note, while winters would be milder and so less energy intensive to heat homes, this would be offset by the need for more energy in summer months for processes like air conditioning.

A diagram representing direct emissions of the Council’s buildings and activities was presented to the Committee.  Missing from this diagram was fleet consumption and the milage that staff undertook to attend work.

The Arc used 70% of gas for heating – this was largely due to the leisure centre.

While Pleasley Vale Business Park used as much electricity as The Arc, electricity was increasingly becoming greener from the development and use of renewables.

The Climate Change Officer stated a full breakdown of the Council’s emissions would be provided March 2025.

Council properties produced around 1,100 tonnes of emissions per annum.  The Council’s fleet produced 600-700 tonnes, though this would need to be confirmed with the Strategic Director of Services.

In comparison to the above, 900,000 tonnes were produced by the whole District in 2022.  This was due to heavy industry and transport links (99.7% of all transport emissions was from the M1 and A38).

It was noted 300,000 tonnes was produced from one heavy industry alone – this was out of the Council’s control, but not influence (e.g., the Council could work with / lobby regional and national governments).

It was reiterated carbon intensity was being reduced from electricity generation due to the increase in solar power and windfarms.  Reducing consumption would also help reduce emissions.

The District could also help reduce emissions by increasing Biodiversity Net Gains (BNG), work to reduce poverty, and improve residents’ health and wellbeing – this was why it was important to look beyond carbon emissions alone.

The District had high levels of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and poverty.  Residents would be less resilient to climate change and more negatively impacted than healthier, wealthier areas.

Air pollutants from industry, transport, and BNG loss were all linked to quality of health.

Ecotoxicity and eutrophication were also factors that would negatively affect health.

Several Council projects  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21