Carbon emissions from Suffolk County Council’s operations have dropped by 15 per cent since 2019 as it aims for net-zero in the next seven years.
The council’s carbon budget shows a reduction from 25,533 tonnes to 21,543 tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted between 2019 and 2022.
These figures only represent about 10 per cent of the total carbon release contributed to by the council, as the impact from products and services purchased is difficult to determine.
The carbon budget was approved unanimously by the cabinet. It sets out carbon emission levels, alongside how they have been and will be reduced by the council.
Richard Rout, cabinet member for finance and the environment, said: “We are making changes. Since 2020, we have seen a 15 per cent reduction in recorded emissions.
“It is important to recognise that this carbon budget only covers emissions related to the services delivered by the county council, which is estimated to be about one per cent of the total emissions in Suffolk.
“The council is working with partners to deliver a Suffolk Climate Emergency Plan that facilitates further action in communities, businesses and households to reduce emissions across our county.”
According to the officers’ report, the main factor contributing to the 15 per cent shift was the transition to homeworking, which resulted in 10 per cent reduction in emissions.
The installation of more efficient street lights resulted in the next highest reduction, at 3.25 per cent.
Labour councillor Sandy Martin said: “I think it would be valuable in the future to try to get more data on those emissions we can’t currently measure very well – from the supply chain of products and services purchased.
“But we need to make a balance between what’s easily measurable and what would take up too much officer time to discover.”
Mr Rout said more clarity around data from supply chains will come in future as the council continues to support the organisations it works with to improve and report emissions.
Of the £12.8 million climate emergency property investment strategy funding approved by the council’s cabinet in 2021 for the period up to 2030, £700,000 has been spent.
Projects carried out with this money include the installation of solar panels and systems to optimise energy use by controlling heating and cooling.
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