Carbon monitoring

Shropshire Council began monitoring its carbon footprint in 2019 (baseline year). This carbon monitoring and progress report updates the councils carbon footprint highlighting any changes from the baseline and previous year’s monitoring. The report addresses the following questions:

1. What is the latest corporate carbon footprint?
2. How has this changed from that reported in our baseline year (2019)?
3. How has this changed from that reported in 2022?
4. What have the projects and initiatives which we’ve supported contributed to the change?
5. What other factors have had an influence?
6. Are we ‘on track’ towards our corporate target for 2030?
7. What co-benefits are there: revenue cost savings, public health, air quality and biodiversity?
8. What have Shropshire Council contributed to wider activity to decarbonise Shropshire?
9. What additional activities such as training, support for community climate action, changes to procurement, are planned.

As well as reporting carbon performance, the report provides a summary of live and proposed projects necessary to tackle the “carbon gap”. It is crucial to adopt an evidence led approach and target the areas identified with the biggest carbon footprint.

Our Climate Strategy aims for an annual reduction of around 10% per year. With UK commitments made in COP26, decarbonisation needs to be continuous and progressive towards the goal of net zero by 2030.