Working towards a zero carbon council
The Council declared a climate emergency in 2019. As part of the Climate Change Action Plan, the council is working towards all council operations being net-zero carbon by 2030.
Climate change action plan
The Council has agreed a Climate Change Action Plan to tackle the greenhouse gas emissions arising from its own estate, operations and activities. It also supports, encourages and works in partnership with others to help achieve a net zero carbon district. The plan agreed is on the whole as it was considered by Corporate Board on 13 July 2021 (agenda item 8).
The Action Plan sets out over 100 projects and actions to be carried out over the next 2 years. The plan shows how the projects contribute to achieving the target of zero net carbon emissions from its own operations and activities by 2030, and to achieve 100% clean energy across all its functions by 2030.
View a summary of the action plan.
The council's own carbon emissions
The Council's own carbon emissions are calculated for the year from 1 April to 31 March. Data has been collected for the years 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22.
The total measured carbon emissions from the Council's own estate, activities and operations for 2019/20 was 1429 tonnes CO2(e) and for 2020/21 this had reduced to 1344 tonnes CO2(e). By 2021/22 this had further reduced to 1182 CO2(e).
There is more detail in the following tables. Emissions appear in one of three categories - known as Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions. These categories are from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The factors used to convert energy usage to greenhouse gas emissions are from the LGAs greenhouse gas accounting tool.
Scope 1 - direct emissions
| Richmondshire District Council's carbon emissions |
2019/20 measured in tonnes carbon dioxide (equivalent) |
2020/21 measured in tonnes carbon dioxide (equivalent) |
2021/2022 measured in tonnes carbon dioxide (equivalent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | - | - | - |
| Mercury House, Richmond | 45.9 | 40.4 | 36.2 |
| Gallowfields depot, etc., Richmond | 0 | 7.6 | 2.2 |
| Reeth Road Cemetery, Richmond | 4.4 | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| George Nickling House (homeless shelter) | 10.4 | 10.4 | 9.4 |
| Council housing - public, communal and landlord areas lighting and heating | 8.3 | 8.9 | 8.1 |
| Other buildings | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fleet vehicle fuel | - | - | - |
| HGV fleet | 216 | 214.6 | 192.4 |
| Non HGV fleet | 130.5 | 122.9 | 120.2 |
Scope 2 - indirect emissions: purchased electricity
| Richmondshire District Council's carbon emissions |
2019/20 measured in tonnes carbon dioxide (equivalent) |
2020/21 measured in tonnes carbon dioxide (equivalent) |
2021/2022 measured in tonnes carbon dioxide (equivalent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmondshire District Council street lighting | 108.2 | 101.7 | 35.4 |
| Mercury House, Richmond | 49.5 | 37.5 | 31.5 |
| Gallowfields depot, etc., Richmond | 26.1 | 35.4 | 23.7 |
| Reeth Road Cemetery, Richmond | 4.5 | 10.8 | 6.9 |
| George Nickling House (homeless shelter) | 3.6 | 2.3 | 2.6 |
| Council housing - public, communal and landlord areas lighting and heating | 19.6 | 26.7 | 15.6 |
| Other buildings | 2.7 | 1.5 | 0.72 |
| Public conveniences | 8.8 | 7.9 | 6.5 |
| Other miscellaneous, e.g. lifeline, warden call | 3.2 | 7 | 2.45 |
Scope 3 - emissions not in Richmondshire District Council's direct or complete control
| Richmondshire District Council's carbon emissions |
2019/20 measured in tonnes carbon dioxide (equivalent) |
2020/21 measured in tonnes carbon dioxide (equivalent) |
2021/2022 measured in tonnes carbon dioxide (equivalent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond swimming pool (includes electricity and gas use, and the carbon emissions associated with water supply and treatment) | 383.4 | 332.2 | 347.98 |
| Sheltered housing - Queens Court, Richmond* | 81.5 | 81.3 | 72.9 |
| Sheltered housing - Oak Tree Court* | 71.2 | 69.3 | 64.6 |
| Sheltered housing - Quaker Close, Reeth* | 78.0 | 68.3 | 76.2 |
| Sheltered housing - Thornborough Hall, Leyburn* | 59.9 | 63.8 | 53.1 |
| Sheltered housing - Noels Court, Catterick* | 51.8 | 43.3 | 41.5 |
| Sheltered housing- St. Cuthberts Green, Barton | 1.8 | 2.1 | 2.27 |
| Business travel - staff and councillors | 22.1 | 6.36 | 9.7 |
| Electricity distribution and transmission - from all electricity used | 30.4 | 27.6 | 14.1 |
| Water supply and treatment | 7.8 | 9.6 | 1.4 |
*includes occupants' power supply