City council carbon emissions continue to fall

Brighton & Hove City Council saw another big reduction in carbon emissions in 2018/19.

Figures show the council’s total carbon footprint was 21,793 tonnes CO2e compared with 24,965 in 2017/18, a fall of 12.7%.

This exceeds a council target of a 4% reduction for the year.

The figures look at emissions including electricity, gas and oil use in corporate buildings, schools and housing (communal supplies). It also looks at emissions from street lighting electricity and fuel usage from fleet vehicles.

The report shows that in 2018/19:

  • Carbon emissions from street lighting fell more than 20%

  • Schools saw a reduction of almost 15% from 7995 tonnes CO2e in 2017/18 to 6801 tonnes

  • Emissions from corporate buildings fell by almost 18%

  • There were also reductions in emissions from housing and fuel usage from fleet vehicles.

Further reductions on the way

The report highlights the ongoing work to reduce the council’s carbon emissions and meet its goal to be carbon neutral by 2030. 

Further reductions are expected to year-on-year emissions from street lighting thanks to the ongoing LED lighting upgrade work, which will deliver reductions of up to 61% when completed.

Chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, Anne Pissaridou said: “It is good to see the work being done to reduce the council’s carbon footprint is having such a positive effect.

"To see that carbon emissions from our buildings, street lighting, schools, housing and fleet fuel are all falling is very encouraging. We know there’s a long way to go to reach our goal of being carbon neutral by 2030 but this report shows we’re on the right track.

“We want all our residents to be looking at ways of tackling the climate crisis. But it is important they see the council is doing all it can to lead the way.”

The report also shows that Brighton & Hove City Council’s carbon emissions have fallen by more than 45% since 2009/10.

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