Cambridge reducing carbon emissions by 658 tonnes

An annual report, produced by Cambridge City Council, has highlighted how the city is reducing carbon emissions from its buildings and operations.

The report reveals that projects completed this year, as well as those scheduled for completion in 2017-18, are expected to reduce the council’s CO2 emissions by 658 tonnes per year. Among the completed projects are the council’s decision to replace seven diesel vehicles in its fleet with electric vans and the installation of low energy LED lighting and motion sensors in Grand Arcade and Grafton East car parks.

The council has highlighted the progress it has made against its five objectives through its Climate Change Strategy 2016-21, including reducing emissions from transport, reducing consumption of resources and increasing recycling, assisting residents to reduce their domestic carbon emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change.

In the ten years from 2005-15, carbon emissions per capita in Cambridge have reduced from 6.7 to 4.2 tonnes per person – a reduction of 29 per cent.

Richard Robertson, executive councillor for Finance and Resources, said: “Work to reduce carbon emissions and lessen the effects of climate change is one of the most important tasks facing the council, the city and the whole planet in the coming years. This report shows that we are on course to reduce our own carbon emissions by up to 20 per cent by 2021, which will be an important milestone on the path towards making Cambridge a ‘zero carbon’ city by 2050, which we aspire to help achieve.”