Ashfield confirms carbon-neutral target
The Council has already made considerable progress in reducing its emissions through multiple projects, including installing solar panels on many Council-owned buildings, switching to a Green Energy tariff, operating smarter working practices in its Council offices, investing in electric vehicle charging points, replacing its fleet with electric vehicles and launching a Climate Change Officer Working Group to collaboratively drive reductions in carbon emissions. Council decision making now includes assessments of impact on sustainability and the environment.
The impact of these projects, actions, and other influential factors has meant that Council emissions have already reduced by 25% since 2015/16, when compared to 2019/2020.
Cllr David Hennigan “Over the last four years, Ashfield District Council has made significant steps to do their bit to combat climate change. For the last two years, the Council has been purchasing 100% renewable electricity. The Council’s scope 1 and 2 emissions have decreased year on year for the last 6 years. We’ve been successful in securing over £5m from funding streams to assist the District in reducing emissions since 2020. These are just a few things we have been doing.
“The Council takes its responsibilities to do our bit to fight climate change seriously. Our climate change strategy further will continue our successes by committing to target of net-zero by 2030 for the emissions we are responsible for. We will step up our influence with partners and this will be a key part of our procurement process and much more. Our strategy will be published on our website and is a work in progress as we do our bit to combat climate change. We are a green Council and this strategy will make us even greener.”
Leader of the Council Cllr Jason Zadrozny said: “I’m hopeful, and I know it’s ambitious, that 2030 is a finite target. We’re not working to that, we’re working to get there as quick as possible and if it’s 2024 or 2025 that would be delightful for me. I think we should be ambitious and 2030 is the absolute deadline. If we can bring that in years before then it will save thousands of tonnes in excess carbon, which is a wonderful thing.”
