Moray Council sets out steps to reach carbon neutral status by 2030
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MORAY councillors yesterday backed plans to put climate change actions at the centre of council activity – aiming to be carbon neutral by 2030.
The council became the first local authority in Scotland to declare a climate emergency in June last year. The draft climate change strategy, discussed by councillors this week, sets some challenging targets to reduce the carbon footprint left by council activities over the next decade.
The plans will now go out to consultation with the public and council partners.
Actions include ensuring carbon reduction is built into the council’s procurement processes; improving energy efficiency across the council’s estate; and promoting home improvement energy schemes for private sector households.
The council aims to have all its buildings – including schools – achieve a net zero carbon target by 2030, which will require significant investment.
Single-use plastics and packaging will be eliminated where possible, coupled with a greater use of recyclable materials across school catering.
Improved recycling and the disposal of food waste is also proposed within schools.
More public vehicle charging points will be installed over the next 10 years, and travel plans for council employees, as well as other major employers and schools, will be devised in a bid to change travel behaviours.
An aspiration to replace the council’s fossil-fuelled fleet by 2030 will require more investment, which in part will be achieved through prudential borrowing but external funding will be required.
Councillor Louise Nicol (Speyside Glenlivet), chair of the climate change working group, said although the strategy implementation had been delayed due to the pandemic, it was vital that work started as soon as the consultation was complete.
She said: "I welcome this strategy being approved for consultation and, even though it’s behind schedule, the timing might be just right.
"In response to the pandemic people have shown that if they have good reason and if they are asked, they are willing to change the way they do things.
"Behaviours have already changed with things like home working, shopping local, shopping less and even growing their own veg.
"It’s the council’s role now to invest, lead the change and do things better, in a more sustainable way.
"I look forward to the feedback from the consultation so that we can take this forward and start to make the changes needed."
The consultation will be launched online shortly. A final strategy and action plan will be presented to the council on January 20 next year.
