Cutting the Council's Carbon Emissions

The Council's Carbon Plan sets out what measures will be introduced to save energy and carbon emissions, and was developed with the support of the Carbon Trust's Local Authority Carbon Management programme. 

The Carbon Plan, approved by Cabinet on 18th April 2007, includes to following:

• A Carbon Vision: Sunderland City Council will become a LOW CARBON COUNCIL by using energy more efficiently and by using and developing more of our own low-carbon energy sources.
• A Carbon Baseline: Sunderland City Council produced approximately 65,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from its buildings, fleet, streetlights and staff commuting in 2006/7. This represents approximately 8% of the emissions from all public and private sector organisations in Sunderland.
• A Carbon Target: To reduce the Council’s carbon emissions by 10%, relative to 2006/7, by the end of 2011/12.

What was achieved in 2007/8

• The Council's carbon emission were reduced by 1.6%
• The Council created a £280,000 SALIX fund, specifically to pay for carbon-saving projects
• The carbon emissions from aircraft and all travel to the Sunderland International Airshow were offset, by insulating 23 homes in Roker, Sunderland.

What's planned for 2008/9

• The SALIX fund will be increased to £480,000.
• £500,000 will be invested in carbon-saving schemes, across council buildings and schools, including projects to install wood boilers and wind turbines
• Carbon emission from the Sunderland International Airshow will be offset once more.
• The Council will apply to the Carbon Trust's "Carbon Mark", to recognise its commitments and action on cutting carbon emissions.

For more details on the Carbon Plan, or if your organisation wants to learn more about how to develop a carbon management approach, please follow the links below:

Carbon Trust

[Back to Sustainability Home Page]