Issue - meetings

The Executive Member will consider a report which monitors progress against City of York Council’s target to reduce carbon emissions from corporate activity to net-zero by 2030.

Resolved:

i.             That the City of York Council Corporate Emissions Report be approved and the council’s contributions to city-wide emissions be noted.

Reason: This report fulfils the commitment in the Council Plan to report on City of York Council’s corporate emissions, using the standardised and transparent SCATTER methodology.

ii.            That the actions recommended in the report be approved.

Reason: To progress towards City of York Council becoming a net zero carbon emitter by 2030.

The Executive Member will considered a report which monitored progress against City of York Council’s target to reduce carbon emissions from corporate activity to net-zero by 2030. The Head of Carbon Reduction was in attendance to present the report and respond to questions.

Key points raised during the presentation of the report included:

·        That this was the first report of direct emissions created by the City of York Council’s corporate activity.

·        Over 50% of emissions came from the Council’s fleet, however there was a programme over the next 4 years to transition all vehicles over 4.5 tons from combustion engine to electric, which would have a significant positive impact.

·        Gas consumption for heating of corporate sites was another significant cause of emissions, for which Heat Decarbonisation Plans were to be produced for the Council’s highest consuming buildings, which would present a pathway to accessing public grant funding through the Public Decarbonisation Scheme.

·        The Council’s switch to purchasing 100% renewable energy in April 2020 had created a positive impact on emissions, and behaviour change campaigns for staff and further improvements through the retrofit programme were also planned to reduce emissions.

·        The Council’s direct corporate emissions accounted for 3.8% of the city-wide greenhouse gas emissions which showed that York could not achieve net-zero by 2030 through the Council’s efforts alone.

The Executive Member noted:

·        That the was pleased with the rate of reduction of emissions.

·        That identifying what was under the Council’s control to change would enable emissions to be reduced further.

·        Emissions from all buildings across the city needed to be reduced, since they accounted for 60% of total emissions for York.

Resolved:

i.             That the City of York Council Corporate Emissions Report be approved and the council’s contributions to city-wide emissions be noted.

Reason: This report fulfils the commitment in the Council Plan to report on City of York Council’s corporate emissions, using the standardised and transparent SCATTER methodology.

ii.            That the actions recommended in the report be approved.

Reason: To progress towards City of York Council becoming a net zero carbon emitter by 2030.