Using low carbon heating schemes and lower carbon fuels in our vehicles has helped Cambridgeshire County Council reduce its overall carbon footprint by 32% since 2018, councillors heard today (Thursday 20 November).
At a meeting of the council’s Environment and Green Investment Committee, Members received the seventh annual update on the county’s carbon footprint and progression towards delivery of the council’s climate change and environment targets.
The carbon footprint report identifies direct emissions, such as those from the council’s heating systems and vehicles, as well as emissions indirectly caused by the authority’s activities, for example from services provided by contractors and employees’ travel for work.
The council has reduced its direct greenhouse gas emissions from fleet and buildings by 51% in 2024/25, compared to baseline figures from 2018/19. Emissions have reduced from 1,547 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) in 2018/19 to 764 tCO2e in 2024/25.
Organisational carbon savings have come from switching some highways fleet vehicles to biofuel and the continuation of a heat decarbonisation programme which has seen old gas and oil boilers replaced with air source heat pumps at 30 out of 59 council buildings with more under way.
Scope 3 emissions (indirect emissions such as those from our contractors and suppliers) in 2024/25 remained at a similar level to the previous year but have reduced by 32% compared to the baseline year 2018/19.
Some of the council’s key achievements in reducing the county’s climate impact in 2024/25 included:
- Major energy projects across the county, delivering over 3,000 tCO2e savings and c.£1.2million income for the council over the last year.
- New Biodiversity and Tree and Woodland strategies have been adopted and published.
- To date, the low carbon heating programme has saved schools in excess of £5.9 million on their energy bills.
- A further 790 council colleagues completed climate awareness training.
- Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) were installed in two schools: Willingham Primary School and Westfield Junior School in St Ives.
- The council was recognised as “A-” in the Carbon Disclosure Project’s global rankings, reflecting its strong performance and leadership in climate action.
- The council, in collaboration with District Council partners, won the bronze award in the Public Sector Transformation Awards 2025 ‘Green Public Service’ category, and was a finalist in the APSE Energy Awards 2025 for working in collaboration, and in The Retrofit Academy Awards - Best Local Authority Led Retrofit Programme.
- We were proud to be ranked among the top-performing county councils in the Climate Emergency UK ‘Climate Scorecards 2025’.
With the current Climate Change & Environment Strategy only providing a framework for the period 2022- 2025, a new strategy for 2026-2028 is in development. This will include new actions to support the council’s ambition of achieving Net Zero carbon emissions for the county by 2045.
Councillor Ros Hathorn, Chair of the Environment and Green Investment Committee at the County Council, said: “There’s a lot to celebrate and be proud of in this latest report. It clearly shows our commitment to reducing our direct carbon emissions to net zero by 2030 and demonstrates the progress we’re making towards that goal.
“Adapting and mitigating climate change takes a collaborative approach, and the progress made towards these challenging targets has only been possible by working closely with our residents, communities, partner organisations and businesses across the county.
“I look forward to seeing continued improvements in this area, as we work towards achieving Net Zero carbon emissions for the county by 2045, and a greener, fairer and more caring Cambridgeshire for all.”
