The Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report asking the Committee to endorse the final Reading Climate Change Partnership’s Reading Climate Emergency Strategy 2020-25 and adopt the new Reading Borough Council Corporate Carbon Plan 2020-25.  The following documents were attached to the report:

·       Appendix 1 - Reading Climate Emergency Strategy 2020-25

·       Appendix 2 - Consultation Report on Reading Climate Emergency Strategy 2020-25

·       Appendix 3 - RBC corporate Carbon Plan 2020-25

The report explained that the Reading Climate Emergency Strategy set out the road map for the next five years to work towards the goal of achieving a ‘net zero carbon’ Reading by 2030 as per the Climate Emergency declaration.  A draft of the Strategy had been approved for public consultation by the Committee at its meeting on 9 March 2020 (Minute 78 refers) and the Reading Climate Change Partnership (RCCP) had now revised the Strategy in the light of feedback received during the consultation.  Having considered the outcomes of public consultation, the RCCP Board had not felt that the ambitious goal of achieving a net zero carbon Reading by 2030 could credibly be accelerated still further.  There had, however, been changes agreed to the commitments and targets in the Action Plans within the Strategy in response to the desire expressed in consultation for more ambition.  The Strategy had also been revised to reflect the inevitable delay of some actions due to the disruption caused by COVID-19.  The final text had been agreed by the RCCPBoard on 22 September and was attached to the report at Appendix 1.  A consultation report, summarising the comments received and the changes made to the strategy as a result, was attached at Appendix 2.

The report noted that the RBC corporate Carbon Plan would take forward the Council’s own commitment to delivering on the wider aspirations of the strategy and would enable the Council to lead by example as it encouraged Reading’s businesses, organisations and residents to take action on climate change. The headline target within the Carbon Plan was to achieve an 85% reduction in RBC emissions by 2025 compared to the 2008/09 baseline. This was considered an ambitious but achievable target, subject to existing investment plans and policies being maintained, and an appropriate milestone on the road to becoming a net zero carbon Council by 2030.

Resolved –

(1)      That the Reading Climate Change Partnership’s ‘Reading Climate Emergency Strategy 2020-25’ be endorsed;

(2)      That the revised RBC corporate Carbon Plan for 2020-25 and the headline target of an 85% reduction on 2008/09 emissions by 2025 be adopted.