What do we want to achieve?
Cheltenham Borough Council has set an ambitious target to become net zero by 2030. Primarily, this involves a plan to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 emissions to almost nothing and to explore the viability of compensating for the remaining emissions through mechanisms such as carbon-offsetting.
Although we will work to reduce our Scope 3 emissions as much as possible, for example, by looking at how our officers travel to work and where our waste is generated and disposed of, much of our Scope 3 emissions come from those across our supply chain, from the builders we use, to the manufacturers of our office pens. This presents a significant challenge for us to reach net zero, as we will need to consider the carbon impact of our procurement activity across the board, for example where products come from, how they are made and what they are made of, as well as the business activities of service providers. Therefore, although we plan to tackle our Scope 3 emissions head on, we recognise that this may be a longer process than reaching net zero for our Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
As well as becoming a net zero Council, we have also committed to reach net zero carbon emissions as a Borough. This is a challenge that will reqire support and change from all those living and working in Cheltenham, as well as businesses, partner organisations like the County Council and LEP, and the government.