…, with a view to being a truly net-zero carbon council by 2040, ten years earlier than our original commitment set in 2019. It will be tough, but we can do it: by reducing as much as possible the energy we use; by moving away from using fossil fuels to electricity; and by generating our own renewable energy. I’m really excited about the future. Let’s change the focus from tackling a pandemic crisis…
… by cutting carbon emissions, protecting biodiversity and reducing pollution. The necessity of reaching net-zero was enshrined in UK law on 27th June 2019, requiring the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. More recently (in April 2021), Government has committed to amending the law to include a new interim target of a 78% cut in emissions by 2035. Human activity…
… to do the same. This updated Plan aims to further facilitate that process. Our Vision (updated for June 2021) Our vision for 2040 is to deliver net zero carbon emissions for the Council’s operations and, in partnership with all stakeholders, for East Cambridgeshire as a whole, with clear and demonstrable progress towards that target year on year. At the same time, we will support our…
… as possible, and as deeply as possible, on our journey to net zero emissions. As such, and new for this second edition Plan (June 2021), the Council is bringing forward by 10 years, from 2050 to 2040, its own net zero carbon emissions target date, and for the first time has set the following interim targets: • A 20-33% reduction in our net CO2e emissions by year 2025/26. • A 66-80% reduction…
… in our net CO2e emissions by year 2030/31. • A near 100% reduction in our net CO2 emissions by year 2034/35. • A truly net zero carbon emission organisation by 2040, with no fossil fuel consumption. For further information on how these interim targets have been established, and the assumptions and definitions used, please see section 3. 8 Purpose of the Environment Plan The purpose…