Public Bodies Reporting Duties 2022 - Carbon Emissions
Perth and Kinross Council · 16 November 2022
Back to Climate Change and Sustainability Committee — 16 November 2022 and its agenda
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PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE 16 November 2022 PUBLIC BODIES CLIMATE CHANGE DUTIES REPORTING 2022 – CARBON EMISSIONS Report by Executive Director (Communities) (Report No. 22/282) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 This report provides an overview of the Council’s annual climate change Public Bodies Climate Change Duty (PBCCD) Reporting submission. It includes an update on the Council’s carbon footprint and emissions trends for the reporting year 2021/22 along with benchmarking information to inform decisions and ensure effective performance monitoring. Based on this evidence, the report to the Scottish Government has been developed for submission. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 It is recommended that the Committee: (i) notes the contents of the report, along with the contents of the Public Bodies Climate Change Duty Report to the Scottish Government (Appendix A). (ii) notes the progress in developing benchmarking information and the need to use it to provide an evidence-based platform to inform decisions and monitor performance. (iii) requests officers to develop a detailed decarbonisation trajectory before November 2023 to enable more detailed plans to be included in future year submissions. (iv) requests officers to develop a robust Scope 3 reporting methodology for the Council by November 2023. 3. STRUCTURE OF REPORT 3.1 This report is structured over the following sections: • Section 4: Background/Main Issues • Section 5: Conclusion • Appendices
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4. BACKGROUND / MAIN ISSUES 4.1 Perth & Kinross Council, as a listed public body in Schedule 1 of the Climate Change (Duties of Public Bodies; Reporting Requirements) (Scotland) Order 2015 as amended by the Climate Change (Duties of Public Bodies: Reporting Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020, is required to report annually via the Sustainable Scotland Network Report to the Scottish Government. This is required in order that Perth & Kinross Council complies with its climate change duties as established under Section 44 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, and as stated in Schedule 2 of the 2015 Order. 4.2 In addition to the above, the 2020 Amendment Order set out additional reporting requirements from 2021/22 in response to the global climate emergency and Scotland’s net zero targets, as well as the interim targets as set out in the legislation. The compliance reports must now address additional sections that include, but are not limited to, the Council’s target date for achieving zero direct emissions; how the Council will align its spending plans and use of resources to deliver its emissions reduction targets; and how the Council will publish its progress to achieving its emissions reductions targets. 4.3 Public Bodies Climate Change Duty (PBCCD) Reporting on carbon emissions is key for the Council to understand how much progress is being made, but also to benchmark our performance with other public sector bodies. 4.4 Since the Council’s first report in the pilot year 2014/15, the Council’s carbon footprint has been steadily decreasing until this year. This is illustrated in the table below. The baseline year has been set as 2015/16 as per the reporting guidance, as in 2014/15 only Scope 1 & 2 emissions were calculated. For greater clarity, the Scope 1 data has been sub-divided down to energy and transport. The trend over time is shown visually in Graph 1 and by sector for 2021/22 in Graph 2. Table 1: Perth & Kinross Council’s Carbon Footprint with updated values (tCO2e) Reporting Year Scope 1 Total Scope 1 Energy Scope 1 Transport Scope 2 Scope 3 Total Footprint 2015/16 9,033 9,033 Not reported 14,676 14,995 38,705 2016/17 8,339 8,339 Not reported 12,661 18,859 39,859 2017/18 8,593 8,593 Not reported 9,967 19,153 37,713 2018/19 10,189 7,573 2,607 5,314 20,488 35,982 2019/20 10,722 8,038 2,684 6823 19,560 37,105 2020/21 10,163 7,830 2,333 5,106 19,337 34,605 2021/22 10,670 8,081 2,589 5,217 20,122 36,008 Note: In some of the earlier PBCCD submissions, emissions were not included in the relevant categories and some were erroneously excluded. The above table reflects the corrected and updated values.
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4.5 The scopes mentioned in Table 1 above refer to: i. Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the Council, e.g., emissions from fleet or oil-fired boilers. ii. Scope 2 emissions are from the generation of purchased electricity. iii. Scope 3 emissions are all other indirect emissions which relate to the Council’s activities, including waste, homeworking, or emissions associated with electricity which is lost in the Transmission and Distribution system used for delivering purchased electricity. Graph 1: Perth & Kinross Council’s Carbon Footprint (tCO2e) Graph 2: Perth & Kinross Council’s Carbon Footprint divided by Sector 4.6 As 2020/21 was a unique year and, as such, it is not unexpected that the Council’s total carbon footprint increased in 2021/22. This year-on-year increase is largely attributed to return to business-as-usual levels of vehicle use across Council’s fleet and property estate. When comparing the latest figures to the Council’s emissions to pre-Covid emissions of 2019/20, the Homeworking (Scope 3) 1% Energy (Scopes 1,2&3) 38% Waste (Scope 3) 53% Transport (Scopes 1&3) 8% PKC EMISSIONS BY SECTOR 2021/22
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levels are relatively similar. A slight increase in Scope 1 emissions from energy has been attributed to the conflicting nature of increased ventilation and heating. 4.7 Positively, there is a decreasing trend in Scope 2 emissions when comparing 2021/22 emissions to 2019/20. This is attributed to energy efficiency improvements, reduced electricity consumption associated with lower building occupancy and a decreased grid intensity factor. 4.8 The increase in Scope 3 emissions is primarily associated with increased collection of ‘Refuse Commercial and Industrial’ to landfill, due to both an increase in volume collected and also an updated emissions factor from DEFRA that is significantly higher than the previous value. 4.9 Overall combined Scope 1,2 and 3 emissions decreased by 3% between 2019/20 and 2021/22. This is less than the identified value of 8% per year needed to meet decarbonisation targets. 4.10 With regards to renewable energy, generation, consumption and export of renewable energy including renewable electricity and heat has increased over the last few years. This year, the Council is also reporting on renewable heat generated by ground source heat pumps, an energy technology that has not been reported previously. 4.11 In this year’s report, there was a new requirement to set the interim and net zero emissions and energy targets. The net zero date for the Council has been set as 2045 to align with the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (Report No. 21/245 refers) of ‘Achieving Net Zero aligned with the Paris Agreement and the Scottish Government Targets, with the ambition of achieving them sooner.’ Sector specific targets in relation to energy as provided in the same report have also been outlined. Following the completion of priority climate action projects to develop a decarbonisation strategy for the Council Estate and an EV Fleet transition plan, there will be scope to review and set more detailed interim targets. Table 2: Perth & Kinross Council’s targets Name of target Target Baseline figure Units of baseline Target completion year Net zero target net zero by 2045 43,308 tCO2e 2045/46 Emissions arising from Council Estate (non-domestic properties) achieve a 75% emissions reduction from public sector buildings by 2030 17,585 tCO2e 2030/31 Energy consumption reduction target for non-domestic Perth and Kinross Council portfolio 3% annual reduction for 2022/23 57,939,867 kWh 2022/23 Remove oil as fuel for heating and hot water in PKC estate all sites with oil as heat to be removed by 2030 2,923,457 kWh 2030/31
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4.12 The second new requirement was to include ‘where applicable, targets for reducing indirect emissions of greenhouse gases’. This is covered at a high level by the Council’s 2045 net zero commitment. In order to set a more focused target, it is necessary to have a comprehensive baseline. To date, the Council has been measuring and reporting on the indirect (Scope 3) emissions for the fields requested by the PBCCD reporting template, but it is recognised that there are several important Scope 3 emissions categories not included in the report template which the Council should be considering when reviewing a Scope 3 target. These include the emissions associated with staff travel, purchased goods and services, and Council investments and pensions. There is need to develop a robust Scope 3 reporting methodology for the Council and it is proposed that such methodology should be developed by November 2023. 4.13 Our understanding of how to calculate Scope, 1, 2 and 3 emissions needs to improve despite its complexity and ever changing criteria, as it provides an evidence-based platform to inform decisions and monitor performance. 5. CONCLUSION 5.1 Perth & Kinross Council’s carbon footprint in 2021/22 has increased in comparison to the previous reporting year. This is mainly attributed to the comparison with 2020/21 where a significant drop in emissions was identified. This was as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on the energy and transport sectors. 5.2 The latest comparable reporting year without the impacts of covid-19 was 2019/20 and, when comparing figures, a decrease in emissions is noticed. However, the emissions reductions trend when comparing 2021/22 to 2019/20 is not sufficient to meet Perth & Kinross Council’s own climate targets as well as statutory targets. (Report No. 21/245 refers). 5.3 Public Bodies Climate Change Duty Reporting on climate action and carbon emissions is key for the Council to understand how much progress is being made. It also allows us to benchmark our performance with other public sector bodies. Our understanding of how to calculate Scope, 1, 2 and 3 emissions needs to improve despite its complexity and ever changing criteria. 5.4 Working towards achieving the actions as outlined in the Action Plan must remain a key priority for Perth & Kinross Council. This is in order to accelerate the decrease in emissions trends and comply with the net zero and interim targets as set out in the legislation. Author Name Designation Contact Details Eirini Kourtesi Climate Change and Sustainable Development Officer (01738) 475000 ComCommitteeReports@pkc.gov.uk Divindy Grant Climate Change and Sustainable Development Team Leader
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Approved Name Designation Date Barbara Renton Executive Director (Communities) 8 November 2022 APPENDICES • Appendix A – PKC PBCCD 2022 - Draft
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ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes / None Community Plan / Single Outcome Agreement Y Corporate Plan Y Resource Implications Financial N Workforce N Asset Management (land, property, IST) N Assessments Equality Impact Assessment N Strategic Environmental Assessment N Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) Y Legal and Governance Y Risk N Consultation Internal Y External N Communication Communications Plan N 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement 1.1 The activities detailed in the report supports the delivery of Perth and Kinross Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement in terms of the following priorities: (i) Giving every child the best start in life; (ii) Developing educated, responsible, and informed citizens; (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable economy; (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives; and (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. 1.2 This report relates to (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. Corporate Plan 1.3 The activities detailed in the report supports the achievement of the Council’s Corporate Plan Priorities: (i) Giving every child the best start in life; (ii) Developing educated, responsible, and informed citizens; (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable economy; (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives; and (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations.
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1.4 This report relates to (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. 2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 There are no financial implications arising from the recommendations in the report. Workforce 2.2 There are no workforce implications arising from the recommendations in the report. Asset Management (land, property, IT) 2.3 There are no asset management implications arising from the recommendations in the report. 3. Assessments Equality Impact Assessment 3.1 Under the Equality Act 2010, the Council is required to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between equality groups. Carrying out Equality Impact Assessments for plans and policies allows the Council to demonstrate that it is meeting these duties. 3.2 The information contained within this report has been considered under the Corporate Equalities Impact Assessment Process (EqIA) and has been assessed as not relevant for the purposes of EqIA. Strategic Environmental Assessment 3.3 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 places a duty on the Council to identify and assess the environmental consequences of its proposals. 3.4 The proposals have been considered under the Act and no action is required as the Act does not apply to the matters presented in this report. This is because the Committee are requested to note the contents of the report only and the Committee are not being requested to approve, adopt or agree to an action or to set the framework for future decisions. Sustainability 3.5 Under the provisions of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 the Council has to discharge its duties in a way which contributes to the achievement of sustainable development. Under the Climate Change
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(Scotland) Act 2009 the Council also has a duty relating to climate change and, in exercising its functions must act: • in the way best calculated to delivery of the Act’s emissions reduction targets; • in the way best calculated to deliver any statutory adaptation programmes; and • in a way that it considers most sustainable. 3.6 The information contained within this report has been considered against the Council’s Principles for Sustainable Development and the report aims to ensure compliance with the reporting requirements under the Acts. Legal and Governance 3.7 The Head of Legal and Governance has been consulted. 4. Consultation Internal 4.1 There has been no other internal consultation. 2. BACKGROUND PAPERS 2.1 No background papers, as defined by Section 50D of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (other than any containing confidential or exempt information) were relied on to a material extent in preparing the above report.