Carbon Neutral by 2027

In July 2019, the Council declared a 'Climate Change Emergency' and committed to becoming carbon neutral by 31 December 2027 for its own operations.

Consequently a Climate Change and Green Futures Delivery Programme was developed in 2020 to allow us to act immediately and deliver an effective strategy to reduce the Council’s carbon footprint. 

Climate change is a complex and changing dynamic and therefore our strategy is a live working document that is revised on a regular basis, ensuring it remains up to date and relevant.   The most recent update is now complete, resulting in our Climate Change and Green Futures Strategy 2023-2027 with 114 actions as part of our revised Carbon Management Action Plan 2025/26. 

The strategy has ten key strategic themes identified as the priority areas. These themes are cross cutting and cover all topic areas which are essential for addressing climate change, ensuring that appropriate actions are embedded across all of our own operations. 

These themes also strengthen the need to engage with residents and businesses in support of positive behaviour change, enhancing what has already been achieved. 

View our current Climate Change and Green Futures Strategy 2023-2027(.pdf)(7.3mb) (Opens in a New Window). 

View our current Carbon Management Action Plan 2025-26(.pdf)1.02 mb) (Opens in a New Window). 

View our one-page executive summary of our Climate Change and Green Futures Strategy 2023-2027(.pdf)(437kb)(Opens in a New Window)

To allow transparency of our progress we will keep all historical versions of this document available to access on this page.

View our historical strategies below: 

Climate Change and Green Futures Strategy 2023-2027(.pdf) (5mb) (Opens in a New Window).

Climate Change and Green Futures Programme 2020-2027 (.pdf) (5.48mb) (Opens in a New Window).

View our one page summary for 2021/22  Climate Change and Green Futures Strategy 2023-2027(.pdf) (397kb) (Opens in a New Window).

Supporting Strategies

The Climate Change and Green Futures Strategy is supported by a number of  strategies that focus on specific priority areas.  These can be found below. 

View our current Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy 2024-2027(.pdf) (1mb) (Opens in a New Window).

View our current Tree Strategy 2023-2027(.pdf) (435kb) (Opens in a New Window). 

View our current Blue Green Infrastructure Strategy (.pdf) (28,400kb) (Opens in a New Window).  Please note the design of this document into Council branding is pending)

What does carbon neutral mean?

Carbon neutral means that any carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from the Council's own operations (gas and electricity consumption and fuel used in vehicles owned by the Council) is reduced as close to zero as possible and any remaining emissions are balanced by an equivalent amount being removed or absorbed from the atmosphere.

Our carbon footprint

2024-25

The Council reduced its carbon footprint by 26% on the previous year to 1,721 tCO2e (reported in November 2025).

Download our Carbon Footprint 2024-25 data (.pdf)(224kb)(Opens in a New Window). 

2023-24

The Council reduced its carbon footprint by 1% on the previous year to 2,342tCO2e.

Download our Carbon Footprint 2023-24 data (.pdf) (276kb)(Opens in a New Window). 

2022-23

The Council reduced its carbon footprint by 1% on the previous year to 2,378 tCO₂e.

Download our Carbon Footprint 2022-23 data (.pdf)(225kb)(Opens in a New Window).

2021-22

The Council reduced its carbon footprint by 23% on the previous year to 2,399 tCO₂e.

Download our Carbon Footprint 2021-22 data (.pdf) (200kb) (Opens in a New Window). 

2020-21

The Council reduced its carbon footprint by 12% on the previous year to 3,641 tCO₂e.
Download our Carbon Footprint 2020-21 data (.pdf) (305kb) (Opens in a New Window).