"Easy wins" already achieved as challenges remain for Gateshead Council's carbon neutrality aims
According to a Gateshead Council report, the council has seen a drop in carbon tonnage from 22,265 in 2019/2020 to 15,295 in 2022/23
by Austen Shakespeare · ChronicleLiveGateshead Council has recorded a drop in carbon emissions "year on year", but challenges remain to achieve the authority's net zero ambitions.
According to a Gateshead Council report, the council has seen a drop in carbon tonnage from 22,265 in 2019/2020 to 15,295 in 2022/23, marking an annual decrease since 2010. However, emissions related to the council's supply chain of goods to procured goods and services, staff community, and home working, remain challenging.
Lucy Greenfield, the authority's climate change team leader, said: "Year on year, we see an annual reduction in carbon emission as an authority. This will get more challenging as things move forward, I think the easy wins have already happened and I think it will be more challenging year on year but we will keep striving to achieve zero carbon."
The climate change team leader went on to explain that while working from home in the summer leads to a temporary reduction in carbon emissions this is then offset in the winter as employees use more domestic power. Employees have been issued guidance to help reduce their energy consumption.
When later quizzed by councillors, the team leader explained that a new travel plan is also being considered for employees to set out options for staff-related travel. The council's report also highlighted that the £2 single bus fair has continued thanks to extended funding from the government.
Gateshead Council, alongside other local authorities, declared a climate emergency in 2019. The declaration required councils to become carbon-neutral by 2030 and to help areas in general achieve the same target.
Gateshead Council's carbon tonnage by year, since 2019/20 is as follows, according to council documents:
2019/20: 22,265
2020/21: 18,137
2021/22: 17,481
2022/23: 15,295
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