The Highland Council Receives Carbon Trust Standard Certification

19th February 2009

The Highland Council is one of only three Councils in Scotland to receive Carbon Trust Standard certification in recognition of the progress it is making in reducing carbon emissions. Since 2006-7, carbon emissions from Council buildings have reduced by 12%.

The Council recently underwent a formal assessment by the Carbon Trust to demonstrate how it has been measuring; managing and reducing CO2 emissions through initiatives such as its Energy Management and Performance Plan (EMPP) and the Carbon Management Strategy and Implementation Plan. This resulted in achieving certification under 'The Carbon Trust Standard'.

Councillor Michael Foxley, Leader of the Council's Administration and Chairman of the Council's Climate Change Working Group, said: "This is a welcome recognition of the very real commitment we are making to reducing carbon emissions and energy use. We have set challenging targets and are on course to reduce our energy use and carbon emissions from our buildings by 15% by 2010/11. I would like to thank those who are working hard across the Highlands to implement our strategy."

The Carbon Trust Standard focuses on the direct action an organisation is taking and certifies that the organisation has genuinely reduced its carbon footprint and is committed to making further reductions year on year. To retain the standard an organisation must be reassessed every two years.

Currently The Highland Council, Fife, Perth and Kinross Councils are the only local authorities in Scotland to be accredited under this scheme. Accreditation under the Carbon Trust Standard has important implications associated with costs of compliance under the incoming Carbon Reduction Commitment.

The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) is a proposed cap and trade scheme that will apply to organisations not covered by Climate Change Agreements or the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. Organisations with electricity consumption from half hourly meters in excess of 6,000 Mega Watt Hours (MWH) per annum will be required to participate in the CRC. The Highland Council falls within the requirement to report under the CRC scheme along with approximately 5,000 organisations within the United Kingdom.

There will be recognition and reward for organisations that can demonstrate early adoption of carbon reduction measures in the three years leading up to the introduction of the CRC scheme.

Photo
Councillor Michael Foxley, Chairman of The Highland Council's Climate Change Working Group (centre) holds the Carbon Trust Standard Certificate of Achievement as members of the committee look on.
Members of the Climate Change Working Group
Back Row - councillors Sandy Park, Isobel McCallum, David Alston, George Farlow, Bill Fernie, Jimmy Gray
Front Row - councillors Ian Ross, Michael Foxley Hamish Fraser