A report presenting the Annual Reports for 2023/24 on two key elements of Reading’s response to the climate emergency:

(i)             The 2023/24 Annual Report on the Reading Climate Emergency Strategy 2020-25;

(ii)            The 2023/24 Annual Report on the Council’s Corporate Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

The Committee received a report presenting two Annual Reports for 2023/24 on key elements of Reading’s response to the Climate Emergency.

The 2023/24 Annual Report on the Reading Climate Emergency Strategy 2020-25 was attached to the report at Appendix 1. The report had been prepared by the Reading Climate Change Partnership (RCCP) and reflected the activity by a range of partners across Reading, not just the Council. The headline message from the report was that, in common with the rest of the UK, emissions for 2022 (the latest year for which data was available) had fallen compared to 2021. This followed an increase in emissions in the year after the pandemic. The long-term trend remained positive with Borough emissions having fallen 54% since 2005. This represented a further reduction on the 51% reduction reported in 2021. The report stated that Reading had seen the 12^th largest reduction in emissions out of 374 UK local authority areas. Reading’s per capita emissions also remained the lowest in Berkshire. The report also explained that the pace of emissions reduction would need to increase significantly to get back on track to achieve the Strategy target of ‘net zero by 2030’. A summary of the key conclusions drawn from the Annual Report 2023/24 on the Reading Climate Emergency Strategy were set out in section 3 of the report.

The 2023/24 Annual Report on the Council’s corporate greenhouse gas emissions was attached to the report at Appendix 2. The report tracked the progress made towards the implementation of the Council’s Carbon Plan and the targets within it. The headline conclusion of the Annual Report was that the Council’s carbon footprint for the 2023/24 business year had been cut by 72.7% since 2008-09. This represented a slight increase in emissions from 2022/23 and meant that the Council’s emissions had risen by 1.2% against the baseline. The slight rise in emissions put the Council above its benchmark target of meeting an 85% cut in corporate emissions by 2025. As had been concluded in the previous year, which had seen modest reductions, further action and investment would be needed to achieve the 85% target, and to make progress towards the ultimate target of becoming a net zero organisation by 2030. The report noted that some factors affecting emissions, in particular the increase in the carbon intensity of electricity, were beyond the Council’s control. A summary of the key conclusions drawn from the Annual Report 2023/24 on the Reading Climate Emergency Strategy were set out in section 4 of the report.

Resolved –

(1)           That the progress in reducing Reading Borough’s carbon emissions, which had fallen by 54% since 2005 be noted;

(2)           That the progress in reducing Reading Borough Council’s corporate emissions, which had fallen by 72.7% since 2008/09 be noted;

(3)           That it be noted that, while progress was being made, the Council and other partners needed to increase the pace of emissions reduction to meet the targets for a net zero Reading, and a net zero Council, by 2030.