What we're doing...

Plymouth City Council has achieved CEMARS (Certified Emission Measurement and Reduction) for its operational carbon footprint for the financial year 2010 to 2011. The Council's carbon footprint comprises emissions from corporate buildings, schools, street lighting, fleet, business travel and water. In the footprint year this amount was 36,666 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Putting this into context; the average household emits 6 tonnes CO2e a year which means that the Council’s carbon footprint equals the same as the emissions from 6,111 households.

Rising energy prices is one of the key drivers to reducing our emissions. Another driver is the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRCEE), which is a tax on CO2e emissions.

Several CO2 reduction projects have already been implemented across the Council. These include; improvements in street lighting, fleet rationalisation, more efficient office lighting, a schools boiler replacement programme, and the Accommodation Strategy. These projects have contributed to an 8.5% CO2 reduction in 2010/11 from 2009/10 levels.

The aim is to reduce the Council’s CO2 emissions by 20 per cent by March 2015 from 2009/10 levels, which would total a reduction of 8000 tonnes CO2. This will be achieved through energy reduction projects, proactive energy management, and changing the culture of the organisation. The vision is that each department initiates and manages their own carbon reduction projects, seeking support and advice when necessary from the Carbon Manager.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Report 2008/9 to 2010/11 [714KB]