Could Wiltshire Council do more when it comes to climate commitments?

Wiltshire Council say they are making progress towards the county becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

It is two years since the local authority declared a climate emergency and to mark the occasion Wiltshire Climate Alliance (WCA) has released a report identifying where they think the council has gone wrong and what improvements are needed.

In the report the WCA outline where Wiltshire Council have made some progress on its own greenhouse gas emissions, but they don’t think the local authority’s acting with the urgency required to make more reductions.

The WCA is also worried that some developments may lead in an increase in emissions.

The report outlines five ways the WCA think the council can meet their target:

• Recommit to acting on the climate emergency as its top priority, setting and reporting on year on year reduction targets, and making carbon reduction an integral part of ALL Council policies.

• Publish a comprehensive carbon reduction strategy and plan by end April.

• Use existing powers under the Planning and Energy Act 2008 to set net zero standards now for all new build houses in Wiltshire.

• Start investing in projects that reduce emissions, including renewable energy, tree planting, and electric vehicle infrastructure, diverting funds from high carbon projects such as road schemes.

• Use existing planning powers to stop or postpone developments that will significantly increase emissions, and make carbon reduction a priority in all planning decisions from now on.

COUNCIL HITS BACK

Wiltshire Council have responded to the report, welcoming it but believe it fails to recognise much of the progress the local authority has made.

In a report the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate, Councillor Richard Clewer said:

"There are also some inaccuracies; for example, we do publish an annual greenhouse gas report; we are taking material action to reduce carbon emissions, both as a council and as a county - indeed, we are projected to have reduced the council's carbon emissions by 80% since 2013/14, while countywide emissions have fallen by 37% between 2005 and 2018."

"Many of the suggestions in the report are constrained by existing legislation, and we are actively lobbying Government to change these to enable us to move forward with climate programmes in Wiltshire, particularly in planning and house building. We are also part of the Countryside Climate Network to ensure that the voice of rural knowledge and experience on climate action is listened to in Westminster."

Mr Clewer stressed progress has been made particularly when it comes to council properties.

"In terms of our own progress, we are leading the way in many areas, particularly when it comes to retrofitting our council houses to raise them to at least an energy performance B rating. This £50m investment over ten years is forecast to reduce carbon emissions by between 15,000 and 20,000 tonnes each year and reduce residents' annual energy bills by around £500. It will also create a market and generate demand for retrofitting properties here in Wiltshire, embedding these skills in Wiltshire businesses to enable private homeowners to use contractors within the county to also make these changes and make their own homes more energy efficient.

"We are also committed to building new council homes over the next ten years to a zero carbon standard; we have bid for £4.5m of Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding to replace existing gas heating with air source heat pumps at several of our buildings; and we have also ensured that addressing climate change and biodiversity net gain are embedded in our ongoing Local Plan review.

MORE CAN BE DONE

Mr Clewer recognises there is " much more to do" and says Wiltshire Council will be consulting on the Climate Strategy later this year to "enable our communities and businesses to help us to make countywide changes to reduce Wiltshire's carbon emissions."

"Addressing our climate ambitions, both as an organisation and for Wiltshire as a whole, is a priority for Wiltshire Council."

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• wiltshire council
• wiltshire climate alliance
• carbon neutral