Decision details

A report providing an update on the council's progress towards tackling the climate and ecological emergencies.

(1)  To note the positive progress achieved over the past year across the priorities set out in the Climate Emergency Strategy and Ecological Emergency Action Plan.

(2)  To approve the Annual Climate & Nature Progress Report before presentation of the report to full Council on 19th September 2024.

Bath and North East Somerset district has seen a 39% decrease in emissions between 2005 and 2021, which is consistent with the average across the UK. Data from 2021 is the most recently available at the district level. As a council, we have successfully reduced our own emissions by 36% between the 2016-17 financial year and the 2023-24 financial year.

We have been recognised by independent organisations for our leadership, including our first B score by the Carbon Disclosure Project and ranking 7th of all UK local authorities by Climate Scorecards UK (including ranking 1st for buildings and heating, and joint 1st for biodiversity).

Progress on decarbonising our own operations includes the installation of air source heat pumps, LED lighting and rooftop solar on two care homes resulting in estimated annual carbon savings of approximately 100 tonnes CO2. The Keynsham Recycling Hub has opened and includes a 3800m2 rooftop solar PV array, rainwater harvesting for vehicle washing and plant watering, and planting of more than 200 trees and 500m of perimeter hedgerows to support biodiversity net gain.

None – providing an annual progress report was a commitment set out in the Climate Emergency Strategy and Ecological Emergency Action Plan.