WARRINGTON Borough Council’s known carbon emissions are falling – but not quickly enough.
This is revealed in an update on the council’s climate emergency plan to be presented to cabinet members by Cllr Janet Henshaw (pictured), lead member for sustainability and climate change.
In 2019, when the council declared a climate emergency, the authority’s carbon footprint was 6,556 tonnes C02e – mainly due to its use of heat, power and transport.
Known carbon emissions have dropped by half since 2014-15 but to stay in line with global climate agreements, they need to fall faster – at least 13.7 per cent per year
Cllr Henshaw said: “As a council, we declared a climate emergency in 2019 and have been working with dedication to reduce our emissions that add to the problem, with our new climate emergency action plan setting out what we plan to do next.
“One of the main calls to action from the recent Warrington Climate Emergency Strategy – developed by the independent Warrington Climate Emergency Commission – is for residents, organisations, and partners to develop climate action plans for themselves at home, at work and in the community.
“We have responded to this call and urge others to do so too. We can’t solve the crisis alone, but it is vital we all play our part.”
Among the actions taken by the council so far are:
Built a new, more efficient main office in Time Square to replace several less efficient ones – at present the council operates from about 70 buildings.
The majority of street lights have been upgraded to more efficient LED lights.
Solar panels have been installed on some buildings, including the Time Square offices, Walton Lea Crematorium, Warrington Market and The Base.
The council has invested in three large solar farms and now generates more new renewable power from these than they buy in from the grid to help reduce carbon emissions.
This year, the entire Warrington’s Own Buses fleet of 105 diesel buses will be converted to electric – operating from the new bus depot which opened last year.
A new electric vehicle strategy has been developed to support residents, visitors and businesses to make the change.
Council employees are being encouraged to switch to more sustainable travel-to-work and 147 have already leased an electric car.
The council’s aim is to be “net zero” for greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by 2030. The climate emergency plan will be a live and evolving framework that will be reviewed and updated over time.
