Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Sustainability Team Manager, Carbon Management Officer & Climate & Ecology Policy Officer

The Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee considered the second Biannual progress report for 2024 shared by the Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate, Performance and Safeguarding, compiled by Sustainability Team Manager, Carbon Management Officer, and Climate & Ecology Policy Officer. The report provided a quantitative overview of progress on our emissions trajectory and performance against our current emissions targets.

There was an extensive discussion following the presentation that covered several areas;

• Value for money and assessing climate impact in terms of cost-effectiveness, impact and the availability of data locally and globally, funding sources and financial commitments for projects.
• A discussion exploring hydrogen and alternative fuels including hydrogen generation and alternative fuel use in practice.
• A discussion of the actions that have positive benefits from alternative fuels, solar PV, building retrofits, and electric vehicles usage and infrastructure.
• A discussion about working closely with agriculture addressing methane emissions and supporting ongoing agricultural work.
• A discussion about reaching wider audiences that extend beyond the council’s direct control so engagement with schools, partners, and organisations in unified climate actions beyond the areas we have direct control.
• The role of the council in providing impartial climate advice to support organisations and residents to reduce their carbon emissions.
• A discussion about resilience and incorporating broader climate impacts like flood prevention and resilience.

The chair summarised the discussion and requested an expansion of the data, including data from wider Dorset, to be collated for the next update and recognised the work that has happened so far.