WARRINGTON Borough Council has cut its organisational carbon emissions by 50.2% in the 8 years up to 2021, members of the council’s Cabinet were told.
In 2019 the council declared a climate emergency expressing their ambition to be net zero by 2030, 20 years ahead of the government target.
The council has since taken actions to slash their carbon emissions over recent years including the commissioning of 3 solar farms, the move towards an all-electric bus fleet with a brand new electric charging depot on Dallam Lane and the council-owned sustainable housing company ‘Incrementum’, building affordable and low-carbon rented properties in Great Sankey and Birchwood.
Figures from the report show a reduction from 12,110.83 Tonnes C02e in 2014-15 to 6030.61 Tonnes C02e in 2020-21. Calculated using a tool from the nationally recognised Local Government Association the results will be used as a baseline and track overall progress towards the councils own targets.
It was announced at Labour’s annual conference that if elected the party would implement their ‘Green Prosperity Plan’. Labour says it will make Britain a “green growth superpower” and will create “one million new jobs in towns and cities in every corner of the country. Allowing Britain to lead the world in renewable energy, electric vehicles and hydrogen power including a promise of 100% clean power by 2030.”
Cllr Janet Henshaw, Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Climate Change said: “I’m proud of the excellent progress made towards achieving the Council’s climate targets.
“Warrington is building solar farms, removing dirty diesel busses from our roads, replacing them with clean, electric public transport, and building low-carbon affordable housing.
“The Tories offer the alternative, they want fracking in places like Rixton and Penketh. They risk undoing all the great work we have done as a town.
“That’s the difference we face here in Warrington. Our residents can choose a fairer, greener future under Labour or whatever dystopia the pro-fracking Tories have in mind”
Cllr David Ellis, Chair of the Warrington Climate Emergency Commission Said: “The Warrington Climate Emergency Commission has just launched its long term strategy and will be working with partners across the town to achieve its aims.
“Warrington Borough Council has an important role to play, both by reducing its own emissions and by demonstrating leadership.
Cllr Nathan Sudworth Chair of the Organisation Improvement and Development Committee Said: “Warrington Borough Council’s innovative approach to cutting our emissions is paying off.
“More than halving our emissions in 8 years shows that we are on the right track to achieve our ambition of being net-zero by 2030.
“However, there is still so much more to do, we need to continue to ramp up our efforts and deliver real change to protect our climate and our future.”
