Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Climate Change Delivery & Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/162

Contact: Rose Sutton, Principal Officer (Service Improvement), rose.sutton@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CA10).

This report updates Cabinet on the delivery of the 22/23 Climate Action Programme delivery plan and the annual greenhouse gas report.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)                      Approve the annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions report for 2021/2022 for publication on the County Council website, set out in Appendix 1.

b)                      Note the biannual update on the delivery of the Climate Action Programme agreed by Cabinet in May (Appendix 2).

c)                      Note the success of the Carbon Literacy Training programme and ambition to achieve bronze accreditation by March 2023 and develop a business case to move to silver accreditation.

Recommendations approved.

The Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2021/2022 report is an annual report on the council’s own operational greenhouse gas emissions and progress towards the target of net zero by 2030 for the council’s own operations.  This report covered the financial year 2021/2022 and updated Cabinet on the delivery of the 2022/23 Climate Action Programme delivery plan as approved at Cabinet in June 2022.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Cabinet Member for Climate Change Delivery & Environment, summarised the report.  He thanked the many officers, and in particular, Stephen Chandler, Interim Chief Executive, for making a step change in integrating climate awareness across the organisation.

Councillor Sudbury highlighted that carbon emissions had reduced by 21% in two years.  Work was in progress regarding carbon emissions from the supply chain.  He drew particular attention to Appendix 2 from Agenda Page 159 which demonstrated the scope and urgency of the work being undertaken by the Council and partners.  PAZCO (Pathways to Zero Carbon Oxfordshire) demonstrated the ability to move beyond talk into action.

Cabinet Members added the following comments:

·       This more self-reliant approach will protect against shocks such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

·       These measures will be accompanied by other moves that will help to reduce inequalities.

·       Central government was making big pledges internationally but doing little in reality.

·       The Council had the policies in place but now needed to implement actions to realise the targets.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Sudbury, seconded by Councillor Enright and agreed.

RESOLVED to:

a)                  Approve the annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions report for 2021/2022 for publication on the County Council website, set out in Appendix 1.

b)                  Note the biannual update on the delivery of the Climate Action Programme agreed by Cabinet in May (Appendix 2).

c)                  Note the success of the Carbon Literacy Training programme and ambition to achieve bronze accreditation by March 2023 and develop a business case to move to silver accreditation.