Council roadmap to net zero status

Peterborough City Council (PCC) emitted almost 14,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases last year, with a significant proportion coming from its own buildings.

A report on the council’s commitmenttoreachingnet zero states that fifty per cent ofitsemissionscomefromits buildings and utilities.

Most of this (40%) is the result of gas and electricity being used in council buildings, while the next largest proportion(10%)comesfrom street lighting.

The other fifty per cent is made up of goods and servicesusedtobuildandmaintain roadinfrastructure(35%)and transport provided for or by thecouncil(14%)withcouncil waste adding a tiny percentage extra (less than 1%).

The exact figure – 13,647 tonnes – is lower than last yearbyaroundoneandahalf thousand tonnes, but higher than 2019/20 (9,613) and 2018/19 (11,607) when there wasn’t the additional factor of Covid meaning more people worked remotely.

Now that more council services are being brought in-house-whichincludesthe procurement of goods and services - PCC has the opportunity to monitor their emissions more closely in future andensuretheyarereduced, the report says.

It has also reduced emissions as Peterborough HighwaysServicehasbegunusing HVO fuel (hydrotreated vegetable oil – also known as renewable diesel) this year and by buying energy through a greenelectricitytariff,thereport says.

Plans for the future include installing more solar panels and LED lights where possible in council buildings.

PCC will also develop a “roadmap to net zero emissions”, which it has committed to reaching by 2030, after the council declared its climate emergency in 2019.