Highland Council approves local authority's Net Zero Strategy

3rd July 2023

Councillors at yesterday's meeting of Highland Council approved the local authority's Net Zero Strategy which was recommended by members at May's Climate Change Committee.

Climate Change Committee Members had reinforced the importance of making progress and agreed several recommendations. They are contained in section seven of the report considered by full Council to ensure effective governance arrangements were in place to build and deliver the Net Zero strategy and action plan. See https://www.highland.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/4820/highland_council

Members at yesterday's meeting also noted that a fully costed action plan will be developed for consideration by 14 December 2023.

The long-term gains of taking a climate-first approach often come with high additional upfront costs, but Highland Council Convener, Cllr Bill Lobban, highlighted the importance of a proactive approach which could alleviate greater pressure in the future.

He said: "Councils need to align their investments with the decarbonisation of infrastructure, fleet, heat technology and buildings and help with skills and project development to keep pace with the net zero agenda. Investing at this point will avoid the Council facing far greater additional costs in the future.

"Several public and private funding streams are contingent on a just transition to a net zero economy. Therefore, there is significant potential for the Council to leverage public and private investment to meet our climate change ambitions."

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 and the subsequent Climate Change (Emissions Reductions Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 ("the Act") introduced binding targets and legislation to reduce Scotland's greenhouse gases emissions to net-zero by 2045 and provides the statutory framework for greenhouse gas emissions reductions in Scotland. The Council has several requirements in respect of reporting against its climate change obligations, in addition to being required to directly support Scotland's target to end its contribution to climate change no later than 2045.

The approval by Members of the Council's Net Zero Strategy outlines the Council's approach and how it will address the climate and ecological emergency which it declared back in 2019.

Highland Council's Net Zero Strategy can be found on the website at Item 14. See https://www.highland.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/4820/highland_council

At the Climate Change Committee workshop on 18 April 2023, Members agreed the following governance arrangements should be put in place to support the development and delivery of the strategy and action plan:

Programme Board - The Council's Executive Chief Officers will sit on the Programme Board, chaired by the Depute Chief Executive. The Board is the strategic decision making body at officer level, providing general direction and support to the Strategy Group. The Board will oversee progress and direction of climate and ecological emergency actions, managing risks and opportunities iteratively. The Programme Board will meet quarterly.

Net Zero Strategy Group - The Net Zero Strategy Group comprising senior managers working across Council services, will be accountable for developing a detailed, costed, action plan by December 2023. The Strategy Group will be responsible for operational delivery and will oversee and steer the strategy and action plan implementation across all services. This Group will measure progress by each thematic group/service and ensure targets are met. The Strategy Group sets the aims and domain of each thematic group. Thematic Group leads sit on the Strategy Group thus ensuring a twoway flow of information. The Net Zero Strategy Group will meet monthly.

Thematic Groups - Eight thematic groups will fulfil a set function, of which details are set by the Net Zero Strategy Group covering: Built Estate & Energy; Procurement & Community Wealth Building; Social Housing/HRA; Planning, Land Use & Environment; Waste; Fleet & Staff Travel; Circular Economy; and Net Zero Funding Strategy and Capital Programme. Thematic Groups will meet monthly.

Not Sure What Net Zero is Yet? One Explanation
Net zero refers to the concept of balancing the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions released into the atmosphere with an equivalent amount of GHG emissions removed from the atmosphere. The ultimate goal of achieving net zero is to stabilize the levels of GHGs in the atmosphere, which helps mitigate climate change and its associated impacts.

To reach net zero, the total GHG emissions produced, primarily from human activities such as burning fossil fuels for energy, industrial processes, and deforestation, must be reduced as much as possible. This reduction can be achieved through various means, including transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar and wind, improving energy efficiency, adopting sustainable practices in agriculture, implementing carbon capture technologies, and promoting afforestation and reforestation.

However, it is challenging to eliminate all GHG emissions completely. In such cases, the remaining emissions are offset by removing an equivalent amount of GHGs from the atmosphere through methods like carbon capture and storage, carbon sequestration in forests and soil, or investing in carbon offset projects that reduce emissions elsewhere.

Net zero is often seen as a crucial step in addressing climate change and aligning with the goals set forth in the Paris Agreement, an international agreement aimed at limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and striving for a limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

It's important to note that achieving net zero requires collective efforts from governments, businesses, communities, and individuals to transition to low-carbon technologies and sustainable practices. It involves significant changes in energy systems, transportation, land use, and consumption patterns to reduce emissions and enhance carbon sinks, ultimately leading to a more sustainable and resilient future.